Since joining here several years ago, I've posted several times about having been the victim of a stalker who eventually broke into my house with a gun and tried to shoot me. He went to jail, then prison, during which time, the courts kept me informed of his whereabouts. About a year ago, my aunt told me he had approached her in the city doing the panhandling bit, so that is the only way I knew he was out and about.
So the way I learned of his death...Well, I had a new storm door installed, and the workman made a mistake in the placement of the door latch and so my storm door couldn't be locked, making me paranoid about leaving my front door open, especially at night. Not knowing the situation of the stalker, I went online last evening to do a search of police records for my state. I happened, then accidentally, upon his obituary. He wasn't very old, 44, and people who knew him when he was around me often said they were surprised he wasn't already dead. He died last Nov. I just assumed he was still out there doing his con jobs, stealing to support his addictions.

Well, I'm not going to say I'm glad he's no longer here on earth, but I no longer have to wonder about his presence, or my perceived threat of him. I've actually had recurring dreams that I killed him! Very disturbing dreams from which I felt guilty.