I'm not one of those poor guys who hopes it's a sign their ex is showing interest. This is something else.

Here it is, my ex from 2006-2009 whom I exercised the zero contact method with (mostly), wrote me an email after not hearing from her or seeing her for a year. In her email, she is politely asking me to help her design some art for her new business she's setting up... I know, weird. She probably Facebook stalked me and knows I'm a professional illustrator/artist nowadays. She used to check in on me with an IM every four months and she even came into the store where I worked a few times where I would have a nervous breakdown while trying to avoid her.

She screwed me badly when she dumped me. She dumped me via Facebook message. I was stuck at school for five months. She offered no explanation and we nearly set up a day to meet for lunch to talk it over when I got home from college and she canceled it the very next morning because she found a new boyfriend! So cruel. The thought of communicating with her stirs up some fire and brimstone inside me.

She simply makes me angry. I'm not enraged about it but I definitely do not think I can communicate with her while pretending to be casual and pleasant. She doesn't seem to be aware of the pain and suffering I endured while trying to do my best in art school. I nearly dropped out. (members of askme helped me stay the course).

I guess my issue is I don't know how to respond if at all. This isn't the first time she's wanted my attention. I've ignored her in the past or played casual for the duration of a three minute lame "how are you" conversation. She doesn't seem to realize how badly she treated me and what kind of suffering I endured. Since she's been dating this same new guy, she's been all kinds of happy, and has never had to be lonely.

If I reply, I'd have to bring up the past. I couldn't possibly deal with her while producing work for her on a regular basis as if I'm totally chill and everything's peachy. Also, her little brother and I are still friends on some level and he thinks the world of me. If he and I interact, I pretend she doesn't exist and she never comes up in our conversation.

Wish I could say I'm happier and having a great life three years later but I'm cynical and jaded about dating and girls. Yes, I've got a great job now and I've moved to the South but I've been dating plenty since she dumped me and nothing has ever developed. Been used for a few months and taken many girls out but never hear from them again. And the newest trend is getting stood up. Selfish creatures.

I can't seem to write short posts for the life of me.

Thanks for any advice.

I may be wrong here but if it was me, I'd blow her off and not even respond. I understand what you went through as I had a similar situation.