How do I know?

Hi all! It has been 7 months of NC for me! Slowly the fog is lifting and things are becoming more clear as to the toxic state I was in with the narc.

I have made an effort to slowly remove any mutual friends from my life but today I get an email from a distant relative of the narc that I was close to (not close to the narc, more like aquaintances). I really like this person but feel awful having any association with the narc.

This relative mentioned nothing about the narc, but wanted to know how I was doing and wished me well.

Why now? It's been so long. Is this a narc manipulation or am I being paranoid? I feel like I have no ability to judge people anymore:-(

Please help!