Thanks for this. Both of these statements really helped me make sense out of things. I realized this weeks that part of my keeping tabs on his new relationship was to know when it fails because I'm scared of him coming back around again. I have read many stories about narcissists coming back after they discard their new supply, and I guess I wanted to be prepared. I am starting to realize that no amount of my following is going to change anything, though. It's all just a show anyway, and I'm sure plenty of it is to get back at me for daring to break up with him. I was the first person to do so, by the way. He was married for 11 years. I feel badly for his ex-wife and children. Who knows what they had to and still have to go through?

As far as empathy goes, it's actually much easier for me to comprehend not wanting to empathize vs. not having the ability. It's not more pleasant, but I can process it a lot more easily. Thank you for all of your kinds words and advice. It helps to be reminded that I'm not the crazy one sometimes. That is how the narcissist makes you feel...like everything that ever happens in the relationship is due to some shortcoming of yours, never theirs.