Perhaps a silly question

Ok, so I was wondering…The healing process begins at the moment you establish NC? It’s been 14 months since I broke up with the N, but until Christmas there had been some communication via emails and skype. I’ve never seen him in person since January 2011. I had kept him as a friend in FB, which was a big mistake but I didn’t know then what I know now about the disorder or at least I didn’t want to admit he was so messed up (I still had hope he would come round). When I started reading and posting in the forum I still needed to make him see he had behaved like an ass. So, in his last hoover attempt on December he was so cruel and judgemental that I thought I had to answer. Of course he answered back blaming me for everything and I ended up deeply hurt once more. I’ve been NC for 3 months now and he’s completely blocked from everywhere. He still occupies my mind but the pain is not the same anymore. Now I think more of my life and my dreams, still want him to pay though… So, what I’m asking is this: am I at the beginning of the healing process? (although our contact was in the form of written messages during those 11 months after the break-up?). I know this sounds silly and that I shouldn’t be so preoccupied with numbers but I still want to know…Perhaps I’m afraid I don’t make enough progress..