When someone from your past reaches out to you

A few days ago, C reached out to me to let me know that not only was he thinking about me often, he hopes that I am well and that he misses talking with me. I replied within 12 hours of his email to ask to him to please let me go and I stated that I can't do this anymore.

To recap:

He ghosted me several years ago because he was "talking" with someone who is now is gf. He reached out to me a few years after that via social media to wish me a happy birthday and apologized for hurting me....we became friends again. Well, sorta friends. I invited him to attend things with my friends and I but he'd always decline - mostly because of his gf and that she'd be jealous or what have you. However, he never invited me to join he and his friends in their activities. 

Come August/September 2023; I can't remember the month but I do remember that it was still hot as fuck. I hadn't heard from him in a month - eventually, I tell him via email that I'm done with him hurting me, etc. so it's time for me to walk away but the good in me hoped he was well. Long story short, I heard from him not long after. He told me that he was swamped with work, he had to go "home" (the country he was born in before moving to the country we both live in - he became a citizen of our country) due to someone either being sick or dying, he had family issues besides that.

I remember crying and asking him: "How fucking hard is it to spend 30 seconds to text me to know that you're ok or that you've got a shit ton on your plate right now and need space?"

I told him that it was time for me to leave - I couldn't handle him hurting me anymore and I normally don't give second chances to those who hurt me (like he'd done) and I sure as fuck don't give people a third chance.

Fast forward to me having a medical situation about a month to six weeks ago - I reached out to him in a moment of weakness. It got to the point that when I'd healed, I had to officially let go of him. I didn't hear from him until I heard from him the other day when he emailed me stating that he was thinking of me, etc.

Do I believe what he said in his most recent email? Not a bit. Did I mean what I told him that I can't handle this anymore? 100%! I was heartbroken when he ghosted me - I'd thought I was in love with him...it took me over a year and a half to get over him. When I heard from him the other day, I spent the rest of that day and most of the next day in bed, crying and hurt. 

I called my bestest friend in the entire world to share with her about the email and my response - she had some tough questions and it wasn't directed towards me....it was like she was thinking about what the purpose of me walking away like why he was reaching out to me (to be conversational?), it appeared to her that he isn't ready to let me go, etc. She understands and respects that I have a chemical imbalance (anxiety and depression - thanks, ADHD!!) and encouraged me to what's best for my mental and emotional health. She mentioned that I should stay strong and not talk to him as if I do chat with him, he will think/feel/believe that my boundaries will be worn down