A lot of time here has been spent on letters from my mother. Well, here is a portion of a letter to her from her ex-boyfriend, the fellow her novel, The Death Man, is based on (and the novel I am trying to finish).
I wish I could have been around for your graduation. I would have invited myself to Tampa to take you out to dinner. Your determination is only one facet of the marvelous character I see in you. I can’t tell you how much I value and appreciate (within myself–I just don’t talk to other people much anymore) the fact that you and I had the relationship that we had for so long.
Not so foreboding, is it?
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 
Not foreboding at all. The most misogynistic, abusive men in the world often come across as the sweetest nicest guys … in the beginning.
That’s how they find victims.
And they revert to that when they think someone else might be looking.
Wow. It has been a while since you left that comment. Sorry, Darcs. I’ve been out of it. And yes, he was the most charming man I had ever met, and I thought he would make a great stepfather. Sigh.
What Falc said.
There are hints in that letter, although maybe I’m seeing them only because I was predisposed to. “Marvelous character.” “I value and appreciate the relationship we had.” Those phrases are seriously drained of real emotion. (And having said that, I have to add: I sure wouldn’t want to analyze — or even read — my own letters to exes from decades ago.)
Not 100% on the same topic, but several times yesterday I watched the YouTube video for the old Cowboy Junkies song, “Misguided Angel.” I’d forgotten what a wrenching song that was. [video / lyrics]
I do like the Cowboy Junkies! Their songs are often wrenching, dark. And this guy, in hindsight of course, was drained of real emotion. At least as far as my mother and I were concerned.