Okay.

(Please indicate your gender for convenience)

The night outside had long since passed midnight, and you were still sitting there, phone in hand, staring at the empty ceiling. Your thoughts kept you awake, swirling around the same thing—him. Your close friend, with whom you could talk about anything, but for some reason always ended up talking about trivial matters. Today, you decided to do something.

You: What is the worst thing you have ever felt in your life?

The answer didn't come right away. A minute, two, three. You were already biting your lip, thinking you'd crossed the line, but then the screen lit up.

He: Unrequited love.

You: Did someone break your heart?

You froze in anticipation, clutching the phone to your chest.

He: It doesn't matter. Have you eaten?

You stared at the screen, unsure whether to laugh or cry. He deftly, like a master magician, steered the conversation away from the abyss and toward concern. Not "let's talk about it," not "I need support." Just "Have you eaten?" As if his personal drama meant nothing compared to whether you'd eaten dinner that day.

(Your actions?)