things catch up with us

The things, or people, to whom we say "no," "goodbye," "thanks but no thanks," or even,
"leave me the heck alone," should disappear like vapor into our past. They are part of who we became, perhaps, but they should not be part of our now, not anymore.
But that's not how it works.
Today, in an email, I learned of how someone from my "past" is doing. It's not good. It involves bad decisions, tents, poor financial management and drugs. Not that I care about this person, or that they are part of my world, my life, my worries or my days. It's jut that their emotional and physical health, which I learned long ago, were not things I could have any impact upon, effect someone who I do care about and who is a part of my world, life, worries, hopes, fears and days.
We all at times wish the worst for our exes. There is that brief, "I hope he never finds anyone as cool as me," stage, don't tell me you don't know what that is...
Then you move on, realize how lucky you are to be light of foot, free, and not with someone who makes you nervous, or who you can't trust, or who isn't as smart and cool as you and you forget about them.
You go on. You live your life. You change and grow and have experiences and adventures they will never know about.
You forget about them.
Then, one day you hear they have met with a terrible, challenging fate...and you revisit and rethink and wonder what led you to their door in the first place and if that is still in you and if it is, what to do about it now?
You know you can't and do not want to help them, you don't even pity them, knowing that life is a series of decisions and choices and you've made yours and they haven't been easy, and yet here you are, you love where you are, and mostly who you are.
They can't touch you, now.
But you wish they would just dissipate...is that so wrong?