He Was Just A Rebound, But He Seriously Helped Me Get Over My Ex

I was just out of a year-long relationship with a guy who was toxic. He’d lied and cheated on me, so I felt damaged. But then a friend popped into my life who was the perfect rebound. I never thought he’d be more than just a band-aid, but he ended up helping me way more than I ever thought possible.

  1. It was in his kiss. This guy was my relationship palate cleanser. He helped me transition away from the crazy breakup I’d just gone through and into a new phase in my life. Kissing him was just what I needed to forget about all that had happened with my ex — and damn, he was a good kisser.
  2. I was finally having fun again. I knew we weren’t made to last forever, and quite frankly, I didn’t care. This wasn’t about longevity. The last thing I wanted was to jump into a new relationship with someone new. I had wounds to heal, but being with my rebound reminded me to have fun. A bit of an escape from my life was just what I needed for a while.
  3. He boosted my self-esteem. Coming out of the relationship with my loser ex left me with a lot of baggage. One of the pieces of emotional luggage was my lack of self-esteem, because he had made me feel like I wasn’t a catch or worthy enough of love when he cheated on me. This rebound guy made me feel good about myself again. When he looked at me with his soulful almond eyes, I felt like I was on top of the world.
  4. He made me see there were hotter guys out there. He was really gorgeous and looked a bit like Ryan Gosling. Being with him showed me that there were hotter guys than my ex out there who would be interested in dating me. It was what I needed to remember now that I was single and back in the dating game.
  5. He brought no drama to the table. The best thing about this rebound guy is that he was a grown man, unlike the emotionally-challenged ex of mine. He was stable, logical, and didn’t bring any drama into my life. Time with him was like sitting in the sunshine on a gorgeous beach.
  6. He rekindled my spark. My ex and I had amazing chemistry, but then we lost the spark around the time he cheated on me. I started to worry I wouldn’t feel the spark with anyone again, like it was my fault that things had changed, but this rebound guy proved me wrong. I still had lots of butterflies and sparks left in me and interesting connections to make with other guys.
  7. The sexting was awesome. My ex could never sext properly. It always turned into a really awkward situation, which made me not want to do it. When the rebound guy suggested it one night, I was hesitant, but it was such a turn-on! Flirting with such an interesting, sexy guy made me feel like a goddess. It only served to further boost my sexual confidence.
  8. I felt wanted again. Getting caught up in an unhealthy relationship with my ex really messed me up. I wondered if I’d ever feel wanted again, but this rebound guy changed all that for me. He texted me regularly, wanted to spend time with me, and told me how refreshing I was to him — he’d also been in a disastrous relationship recently and I’d rekindled his faith in love. It was amazing!
  9. He wasn’t my usual type, which was actually great. The rebound guy looked different, acted differently, and had a completely different personality from my ex. It was so refreshing to be with someone who wasn’t so intense and brooding, who had a dry sense of humor and a naughty smile. I loved seeing that I didn’t have to stick to my usual type — this guy was proof that I could find happiness with other kinds of guys.
  10. He saved me tears. Of course I had to work through the pain of the breakup, but time with the rebound guy was time spent laughing and having fun. I probably wouldn’t have smiled so much if he hadn’t been in my life at that crucial time. He reminded me that there’s always beauty and happiness just outside of pain.
  11. It was practice for the real thing. I’m not saying the rebound guy and I used each other. We just wanted to live in the moment and be together before we moved on with our separate lives, and that worked for us. The two months we spent together helped me prepare for a more positive, healthy relationship in future. I felt like if I could have such an amazing time with such a great guy, then there would surely be other cool guys who would leave memories of my ex in the dust. And they did. Thanks to the rebound guy for starting the process.
Giulia Simolo is a writer from Johannesburg, South Africa with a degree in English Language and Literature. She has been working as a journalist for more than a decade, writing for sites including AskMen, Native Interiors, and Live Eco. You can find out more about her on Facebook and LinkedIn, or follow her on Twitter @GiuliaSimolo.
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