Men’s answer
You can be civil in a group without being friends. Friendship requires that neither of you is still lobbying. If one of you is hoping, it is not friendship. It is a slow leak. Dramatic is staying in a role that keeps you half-coupled.
Can you be friends with an ex after a serious relationship?
Asked by Woman, 37
We have the same friends. Cutting him out feels dramatic. Staying close feels like limbo.
Women’s answer
Shared friends do not obligate intimacy. You can say hello and not process your dates with him. If he is the person you still call when you cry, you have not finished. That is allowed. Calling it friendship is the lie.
What to do next
Six months of group-only contact. No private late texts. Then see whether a real friendship is even interesting.
After both answers