There was someone in my life who was extremely mean to me and made my life a living hell for a while. I am not a mean person, I don't think I deserved the way she treated me and the things she said to me.

Well she had a work-related back injury and abused painkillers for a long time. Eventually she overdosed and died. Well when I found out I was filled with nothing but contentedness and relief. I sleep better knowing she is dead, and a part of me is happy she died alone and depressed.

The other part of me... I believe there is a reason behind everyone's behavior. I don't know what demons she lived with, what her life was like growing up. Ultimately I don't think it is her fault how she treated me. Her life was nothing but a long string of friends and family who she burned. Plenty of people have tried to help her for a long time, I didn't know her that well, it was hardly my responsibility or place. I had very little power to do anything.

So bottom line is that I feel sorry for her, I feel compassion for her, I don't think she deserved to die. But I don't feel guilty that I'm never going to be abused by her again. Just talking about this brings back grief and trauma, I can hear her words echoing in my ears. Even though she is dead I still have to live with that.

Sorry if this comment is out of place. I know it's not nearly the same as rape. For a bit of context: I was abused pretty badly as a child by my parents and it left a lot of lasting trauma. Then when I was an adult this person came into my life and took advantage of that, was able to reduce me to a child. She was a lot older than me, just someone I knew, not a romantic partner or anything.