Why is my crazy ex contacting me ?

I really don’t know what to do in this situation.

I was in a really abusive, painful relationship with my ex who is a sociopath. He just emailed me tonight, and the last email he sent before that was on October 2011. It was a really harmful relationship to both of us, more of me than him, since he was the one who physically hurt me and put bruises on my skin.

I don’t know why he is still trying to email me or reach out. I honestly don’t know why he is doing it. Maybe to get a reaction, maybe to feel like he has control again. It’s not for sex because he is a handsome guy and can get any girl he wants. It’s not to apologize. He just said something like “Hey, I don’t check up on you anymore, but I saw your ____ was cancelled. Hope the holidays went well for you.”

The last email he sent on my birthday was him just saying happy birthday, hope you are well. Even though he kicked me out of the apartment, with nothing but the clothes on my back. I’m really trying to not be weak. Considering all the abuse he has put in my life.

I’m tempted to either not do anything, get a restraining order, it’s really confusing. I do not want to be weak. I don’t want to go back to the very painful relationship. But a small part of me just wonders, what if? I know it sounds really really crazy. Considering a year ago, I almost tried to kill myself, and he said he felt like killing me if his abuse went out of hand.

Would the smartest thing to just delete it and make a new email? Possibly get a restraining order? I don’t want to be weak because I feel lonely right now. What do I do ?