Can't talk in details (as if I ever do here) but heard from a friend that I knew was in a bad state. S/he couldn't say what was making hir down, but it was definitely making hir down. All I could do was keep cheering hir up in the abstract, sending emails with warmth and care.

I didn't want to pry. If s/he wanted to tell me, then I'd know. I tried to even make sure my encouraging words couldn't be misconstrued as "if you'd tell me more" or any such nosiness. I pride myself in having smart friends, and this one was no exception. If s/he wanted me to know, s/he'd tell me.

Anyhow, heard from hir today, and we talked. Hir news wasn't good, but it was good to hear from hir again. We talked, and I felt I was able to help hir some more, listening, asking some questions that may not have been where s/he wanted to go, but probably had to be asked.

No, not nosiness. There are some jaunts where the journey is more valuable than the destination; there are some questions where simply pondering them is more important than the conclusion.

Anyhow, that's one match off the camel's back. My friend's okay. Not peachy-keen-okay. But back, and not as bad off as s/he could be. Hopefully, on the way to okay, the peachy-keen variety.

Sorry to be so nebulous. The point isn't to start a guessing game about "who's taer's friend?" / "what's hir problem?" The point is, I was worried about hir, and, while still worried because the news isn't great, but I heard from hir again.

Just wanted to share with you all the relief I feel. Thanks, all.