Unexpected message from an ex...

An image of me

While observing my a lone time today, all in deep thoughts, my phone suddenly buzzed with a notification. So, I had to pause the a lone time and picked it up

Guess what, I saw the name of an ex-boyfriend I dated years back...

For a second, I just stared at the screen with mixed feelings

I couldn't help but laugh out loud with a scream "Ah, kilo ṣẹlẹ? Wetin sup?" I said to myself.

Out of all the people in the world, why would you suddenly DM me after all this time and years?

Curiosity got the better of me, so I opened the chat.

He was talking so casually, asking how I had been, bringing up old memories which I choosed to bury, and even saying we should keep in touch. It almost sounded like he wanted us to become close again.

But that message took me back to a chapter I worked so hard to close, a phase that took a lot of time for me to heal

This was someone who frustrated me emotionally even abused me physically.

Since he brought up the memories back, I reminded him about the unanswered calls he once claimed busy, the mixed signals he kept sending, the promises that never became reality

At a point then, I remembered crying, questioning my worth, and wondering what I had done wrong.

Like for real, it took time, prayers, and healing before I finally found peace... Not just peace, It was a safe place in a human form

Now he's back with a simple "Hi baby"

Part of me believes people can change, another part of me remembers how difficult it was to rebuild myself after everything that happened.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate him anymore, but I don't know if forgiveness automatically means giving someone access to your life again.

So now I'm genuinely asking...

If you were in my shoes, what would you do?

Can you truly forgive an ex and still keep them close as a friend?

Or is it wiser to forgive from a distance and protect the peace you've fought so hard to find?

I'd really love to hear your thoughts...