For teens · Friends
A hard chat
A friend is telling you something upsetting. They stop and go quiet.
What could you do?
Three things you could say. None of them is the one right answer; each note says why it fits the moment, or why it may not.
Stay next to them and say nothing yet.
A strong fit
The pause is part of what they are saying. Staying is listening.
Say: "I am here." Then wait.
Also works here
A short line that keeps the space open. Once is enough.
Change the subject to cheer them up.
Worth a second look
It fills the pause and moves them off what they needed to say.
What people here usually expect
- When someone stops mid-story about something hard, most people want company, not words.
- You can sit in silence longer than feels comfortable. It is usually fine.
- A nod or staying close is enough of a signal.
Your words
Write one line you could say after a friend goes quiet, or write "nothing yet".
In the app you write one line here and it lands in your lines. Nothing is graded.
The move this moment practises: Leave some space.
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