let me start off by saying I know how you feel about the ex. However a quote from a previous post kind of brings me back to reality: <<You don't treat your friends the way he treated me.>> That and a few other thoughts have kept me from accepting "friendly" invitations.
<< To those down the road a ways, when do the LBS pain of rejection go away?>>
Well it begins to go away when you truly detach (I know that is a cliche around here). When we begin to see other people. Does the pain totally dissipate....maybe with time.
Bottom line. I know I have said this before...there are good people out there....people who treat their friends right.