I can offer some general insights on how a person might react if someone who hurt them very badly reaches out years later to apologize. It's important to remember that individual reactions can vary significantly based on the person's personality, the severity of the hurt, the circumstances surrounding the apology, and the time that has passed.
Emotional Impact: Receiving an apology from someone who hurt you can evoke a range of emotions, such as surprise, relief, sadness, anger, or even indifference. The hurt individual may need time to process their feelings before deciding how to respond.
Closure and Healing: An apology can sometimes provide a sense of closure for the person who was hurt. It may validate their feelings and experiences and offer a chance to heal emotional wounds.
Willingness to Forgive: Some people might be willing to forgive the person who hurt them, especially if the apology is sincere and heartfelt. Forgiveness can be a powerful way to let go of negative emotions and move forward.
Setting Boundaries: Others might appreciate the apology but choose to maintain boundaries with the person who caused the hurt. They may not wish to re-establish a close relationship and prefer to keep their distance.
Guardedness: After being deeply hurt, some individuals may feel guarded and skeptical about the sincerity of the apology. They might be cautious about rekindling any form of connection.
Personal Growth and Change: The person who caused the hurt may have changed over the years, and the hurt individual might consider whether the person has truly learned from their past mistakes.
Decision to Ignore: In some cases, the hurt individual may decide to ignore the apology altogether, choosing not to engage with the person who caused the pain.
Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all response to receiving an apology after being hurt deeply. People have complex emotional reactions, and the process of healing and forgiveness varies from person to person. It's essential for the person who caused the hurt to be genuinely remorseful and understand that the hurt individual has the right to process the apology in their own way and time. Communication and empathy are key in such situations.