<human>: Can you give me a shortened version of the text?

I'm in my late twenties and I just got slammed with my first real traumatic break-up, dumped unexpectedly after two and a half years. As soon as I can manage the idea, I want to start dating again -- but while I have nothing against one night stands, I don't love the idea of casually seeing someone just to have the proverbial rebound relationship that, according to popular wisdom, will cleanse my palette and make me capable of falling in love again.

I feel this way in part because finding someone I like and am attracted to is difficult enough, and going through the motions of a relationship that won't go anywhere feels counterproductive and a bit depressing. But also, there's someone at work who I'd successfully avoided crushing on while I was in my relationship, but now that I'm free of everything except heartache, well.  He's a great guy and I think he might be interested, but because of the fact we work together, I wouldn't want to start dating him until I was really ready, as the last thing I'd want is for it to go badly and deal with the fallout at the office.  So maybe I should try a rebound thing first? Even though I would be interested in someone else? I don't know.
<bot>: Is a rebound relationship really essential to getting over the end of a relationship/a bad break-up? Or is that just a myth?