It is nearing the end of the academic year, which makes it prime BREAK UP SEASON. Many people don't want the "burden" associated with being "committed" over the summer (especially long distance) and seek to "take a break" or end their current relationship. You may also hear someone say, "I'd like for us to back off a bit and give each other some space." When someone says that they want you to back off, it means that you are smothering them and becoming a bother, rather than an attraction. That is never a good thing, so, back WAY off...Which means text them MUCH less, call them MUCH less, IM them MUCH less, see them MUCH less, don't stalk them on Facebook or MySpace and GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO MISS YOU!
Now, if you decide to date someone who has recently "broken up or separated," remember this equation...You should give a person:
Two weeks for every month they dated someone else
or....
Two months for every year they dated someone else BEFORE you even consider dating them!
Why? This gives them a chance to ensure that their previous relationship has truly run its course, to deal with their feelings of loss and to grieve the end of that relationship. They may have invested their heart, mind, body, soul, time, effort and resources in this other person and now all of that is over. Feelings don't just subside the instant a relationship ends, it takes time. For some people, a great deal of time, whether they were the break-er or break-ee. It is different for every person.
Please heed this warning... If you date a person too soon after they experience a break up, you'll be their "rebound relationship" which will RARELy last and there is still a decent chance they may get back with their "ex" leaving you lost in "The Bermuda Triangle of Love" as the "odd person out!" That is never a pleasant feeling. All relationships hit "speed bumps" from time to time and you don't want to get caught proceeding too far, too fast with someone following a break up. Exercise patience and you may just experience social satisfaction in the long run.