Melanie, I just saw this thread. First let me say that Iam very sorry this happened to you. Here is my view on the situation.
As I read this thread, three people I know come to mind for myself, and for one of these three people, his family does as well. The three people are my father, my best friend's mother, and the man who helps me transport items for my business, whom I've mentioned on here in the past. All three of these people, during my life, and in recent years, have made mean, miserable troublemaking comments to me, and either attempted to cause me severe harm or damage, or gloated when I've had troubles. I havent seen my best friend's mom for 7 years, since she did everything in her power (unsuccessfully) to bust up my relationship with my best friend, simply because I had reached my breaking point with her, for passing judgement on my life. My father has done too many things to list here, and the guy who helps me transport items from my business, has made fun of me for being 36 and not married, and wished my business to fail. All of the people I list have either severe emotional problems, or are mean, miserable human beings. Iam coming to a point here, and this is it.
Apparently, the person who hurt you, as well as the ones I listed, get their thrills from hurting and harming others. It allows them to let out their aggression and anger for other issues in their lives, and attempts to elevate their own egos, by bashing, and putting down others. This, I think, is why many people who bash others without just cause do so, to both belittle others, and elevate their own fragile egos.
How to deal with it? Well, I usually use the method of removing them from my life. I was estranged from my dad for years, as many know, and I mentioned about my best friend's mom. Iam planning on firing the guy who helps with my business this spring, not because he is a jerk, but because his services will no longer be required. I dont deny that I look forward to letting him go.
Anytime I get down, or carry on about any of these people, except for my dad, my mom always tries to put things into perspective. She points out that all these individuals are extremely bad people, who enjoy hurting and harming others, or seeing others hurt, and who, except for my dad, really dont amount to a hill of beans in my life. It can be hard, because it happens to me, but it seems to me that you probably should try to put the person that hurt you into the proper perspective, and focus on those who love and care about you, like your husband, and your friends here at TMF. Unfortunately, there are those out there who get their thrill from hurting others, and there isnt much you can do, but what you can do, is to put them into the proper perspective, and to focus on who is important, and go on with your life. It's hard, trust me, it is for me too, but this is what my mom always tells me, and it is sound advice. I hope this helped.
Mitch