I had that kind of conversation with a good friend. It was amazing how we each interpreted events and snippets we'd heard from various sources differently, radically differently. But because we're good friends, we listened to each other, asked questions, challenged each other, and agreed to disagree on some things.

The act of being part of another’s pain–listening, acknowledging, and feeling it–is a powerful act. I’m not solving anything for that person; I stand in that painful space with them.