Water Under the Bridge

The definition of this idiom is as follows:
Something in the past and no longer important.

Hmm. I keep hearing the voice of a ghost that said it on Saturday.

"That's Water Under the Bridge!"
Something in the past and no longer important.

I was faced with this ghost, a family member, that has caused so much sadness and pain. I had not seen him in some time. I stayed away for the most part. With the exception of my teen years, and the years I was a new mother, I keep him out of my life as much as possible. He happened to live with family that I love dearly and I did not understand or realize how dangerous he was when I accepted him in my life. I am sure that my parents did not realize it when they allowed me to be in his care as a teen.

Many years have past. The pain he caused was irreparable. It spun out of control for years, causing physical pain, mental anguish and even death. But yet he continued to be the mean soul he was.

As a child I did not understand.

As an adult I do not understand.

You see he is not really a ghost, yet, anyway. Occasionally he appears unexpected at a family function. No one ask him to leave. He has someone near and dear, with him. She doesn't remember us, or him for that matter. Her Alzheimer's keeps her as a walking shell of the woman she use to be. If she was not with him, he would not be welcomed. Some of the family has forgiven him. Some just look the other way.

He made the comment, in regards to his deceased son. It echos in my heart. He truly doesn't care about what he did or who he has hurt.

It's just water under the bridge...