<human>: I started dating a gal (I'll call her Ash) when I was a junior in high school.  She was 18, I was 17, and we fell in love at first sight.  She was my first love and we stayed in love through our 8 year relationship.

We broke up when I realized that I was going a different direction with my life than she was.  We ended amicably and I recently started seeing another girl, Meg(F23), but I have found it difficult to find my footing in this new life and also where Ash fits into all of it.

Meg has been fantastic in regards to being open to talking about Meg but I can tell she isn't exactly thrilled when she comes up.  Also, Meg has been wanting to meet my friends, but I've realized all of my friends were through Ash, and they've stopped talking to me.

My request for help is two-fold.

1. What roll do you think Ash should play in my life now? She is honestly the most important person in my life that isn't family.

2. How do I begin to make friends as a 25 year old out of school and not in a career? 

Thanks for any and all advice.

Can you condense the text into three sentences or less?
<bot>: I am just out of an 8 year relationship trying to rebuild my life.  Should my ex stay in it? How do I make new friends?