“I was sorry to hear the bad news.”

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“How are you doing?”

“Tell me more about it.”

“I care.”

“If you ever need to talk, I’m available.”

Be there. There is nothing more valuable than someone by your side when you are struggling with the shock of loss.
Avoid giving advice.
Offer practical help.
Be a good listener.
Be patient.
Allow people the opportunity to name the emotions they are feeling, to talk about them and unpack them without any sense that they are wrong and inappropriate.
Encourage them.
And remember, you can’t fix it.

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My Friend
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