I think all of us here had broken NC many, many times. Like thisisnotfun, I would start to heal and it's like he KNEW I was on my way to being in a great place without him and he would show up, sometimes in very sneaky ways. Remaining strong and NC is the key. You can build as many dams as you want (change phone number, block texts and emails, etc.) and reinforce those dams and walk away but you must always be mentally and emotionally prepared for the cracks that xN/P will undoubtedly find (or create!) and keep some fresh mortar (or gorilla glue, lol!) on hand always so you can stop up the leak right away! I still have to have limited business contact with xN/P but I am like a stone if I have to see him or talk with him - no eye contact, no smile, and only brief and to the point conversation if necessary. And I only allow LEGITIMATE business contact with him, contact I must have to keep my job. Anything else and he gets the cold shoulder, no eye contact if I have to see him and non-legitimate business calls get transferred to someone else. (One time he called my phone when I was away from my desk and a coworker picked up for me. He hung up on her! Obviously not a legitimate business call that time. Loser.)

I am the one who ended things with him. I had never known such an emotionally empty person in my life, someone with no soul, no conscience. My biggest mistake was to feel pity for him at the beginning. Who in the heck pities Satan?!?! No one doubts that Satan is evil, right? So when I am forced to see or talk with xN/P, I just picture him as Satan, with the horns and empty eyes and smooth talk, trying to lure people in to hell, which he can make seem like paradise with his convincing, hypnotizing words, his lies and his empty promises. Nothing they say is true. They promise you heaven then lead you right to hell. Run away, stay away, recognize their tactics and ploys if you MUST have contact with them (such as co-parenting and work). Get far away if you are able to.