I think a divorce and the ensuing distance and lack of pressure can definitely make the individuals appreciate each other more and help them remember what they fell in love with in the first place.

And I think this can go in several possible directions.

Some couples do get back together and with their new knowledge and independence, they can make the marriage work a second time.

Some couples fall in love again and get back together and then all the old problems kick in and they divorce a second time. (I have one of these in my family.)

Some become very good friends after divorce and stay that way forever, even after each or both of them remarry. Sometimes the two new couples become very close, especially if there are children and become one big extended, blended family. (I also know one of these personally.)

Some are so relieved that the divorce wasn't as painful as they feared it would be that they do enjoy the former partner's company for a while, but eventually drift apart when it becomes apparent that they no longer have much in common except a shared time together once upon a time.

Some people can be the deepest of friends, but are not cut out to be lovers/romantic partners. Unfortunately in our society (and I've seen it said on this board numerous times) there is a belief that a (heterosexual) man and woman cannot be close friends without there being sexual overtones. I would hold up the sexless marriages of many on this board (perhaps including my own R) as prime examples to the contrary! In our society, if a man and woman want to be very close friends and support each other emotionally, they pretty much have to marry-- we have no other slot to put them in, EXCEPT, ex-lovers/ex-spouses. It's sometimes understood that ex's can be close without being sexually involved. Too bad you have to go through a divorce to be allowed to be publicly close to a person of the opposite sex whom you care for a lot.

If the guy is gay-- no problem! You can be Will & Grace.

So who knows how your story will play out, WIL? The one day at a time approach is a good one.