If you've just been dumped by your ex girlfriend, you're probably doing a lot of reading online to find a solution.
Without a doubt, some of the information you're going to read is going to be conflicting.
One of the biggest points of disagreement amongst authors is whether or not to become friends with your ex after the breakup.
Some will advise that this is the only way you're going to be able to stay in your ex's life, and others will tell you to stay clear because once you're in the friend zone, you can't escape.
What you should realize is that becoming friends with your ex is not like becoming friends for the first time.
Quite often, a relationship is not allowed to develop because the two individuals become good friends first.
But this isn't the case here: you have a history of being lovers, and that changes everything.
The reason you will want to become friends with your ex is that you may not have any other options.
It's either that or you simply stay away and any hopes of getting back together diminish with time.
You want to remain a part of your ex's life because, if you allow the healing process to progress, they really will get over you.
At least if you're there as a friend, there's always a chance down the road.
But you really have to be a friend.
That means treating your ex in a completely different way than you may be used to.
It's going to take time to get used to this new relationship.
One thing you don't want to do is show any signs of romance.
You also don't want to bring up the old relationship and fish around for answers to your questions.
Just drop it and move on.
Being friends with your ex girlfriend doesn't mean that you can't flirt a little.
You can still be charming, make her laugh, and you can both have the time of your lives, as long as you keep it light and resist making a move on her.
You have to coddle this relationship for now - you are building a new foundation, just remember that.