<human>: I met this girl through a mutual friend a couple months ago and right from the beginning there was an instant connection. The kind where you feel like you have know this person your entire life.  

In the weeks that followed we talked a ton, would meet up during the days for coffee and hung out in the evening cooking dinner for one another or going movie dates. We also had sex and that too was amazing.

As the weeks went by things shifted a bit. We both started looking a bit more longingly at each other, little bits were dropped here and there to let the other know we weren't dating others and that we cared for each other and our sex evolved too. We both noticed it.

So at this point i need to share that she is recently out of a 6 relationship. One that has left her with a bit of anger/resentment toward her x. The subject was never taboo and we talked about her relationship with him a bit. 

Then the other day, a day after an encounter with her x that left her upset, she gives me that "Its not you it's me" bit... Telling me that while I make her incredibly happy she finds herself feeling 'empty' inside and processing everything is too much for her... and that she just needs me to be a friend right now and nothing more. 

.. and this is where I am looking for advice as my friends are giving all sorts of different advice. One friend of mine [female] said that she went through a similar situation when she left a long term relationship and then met someone soon after, and she said I just need to take a deep breath relax, be there for her and when she is ready she will go with it. Another friend [female] said that I need to step away from it and let her figure her shit out.

So what is a guy to do? I am totally smitten and just want to make her happy.

Can you succinctly summarize the text in 1-3 sentences?
<bot>: ! I fell hard for this girl, she tells me she has strong feelings for me then tells me we can only be friends due to a past relationship being overwhelming. Do i stay as friend or walk until it gets figured out