trinny, it all depends on the relationship and respect to the other.
i have known mrwarpig for 20 years. We split up for 8 years in the middle of this, I didn't hate him and he didn't hate me, it just wasn't working but we remained in contact (just once or twice a year). We are now engaged to be married and living extremely happily together, perhaps we are soul mates and just needed that time (long as it was) to realise it.
So in my case the answer is yes but that does not apply to everyone.