Forget About It or Bring It Up?

It's been about eight weeks since school started. There's a new girl who had started going to my school by the fifth week. I come early in the morning, and so does she, so we were the only ones in an empty class that morning. She asked me about what we had studied so far, about the teachers and the other classmates she was about to meet and whatnot. She seemed pretty nice.

The day after that, she came into class. A minute later, she told me that there was something she needed to tell me, something she had cried herself to sleep the night before this. I asked her what it was. She started telling me about her dysfunctional family, how her father's always working and how her siblings and she rarely get to see him, and how her mother leaves her to take care of everyone.

I really wouldn't have imagined any of this the day before. She seemed very pleasant and cheerful that I wouldn't imagine she would have to deal with all of this every day.

She started telling me about how hard she tries to study but she can't focus because of her little brothers' constant interruptions and how she has to look out for them and cook them food because their mother is too busy to. She was crying all throughout this conversation.

She's only fourteen, and yet it's as if she already has her own family to care for already. I felt somewhat guilty, as I am about her age, and I know I couldn't handle half the responsibility she carries.

After that, she went on to talk about how she could never make friends in her previous schools. Then she confessed to me that she used to have a therapist but after her family moved she could no longer stay in touch with him.

All this time I didn't really know what I should be saying. All I could say was ''I'm sorry.'' I'm not very good at comforting people, especially since I've known her only for a day. No one's ever told me something that personal, so I guess I'm just not used to it.

Finally she told me that if I didn't want to befriend her, it would be fine. I told her I really did, but she just walked away after telling me to please not tell anyone in our class about this. Then we just moved on as if nothing had happened, and she didn't bring it up for two weeks (and neither did I, for that matter).

So mu question is, do you think I should talk to her about what happened? It just doesn't feel right to block something like that out of memory.

-Burning Aroma

You could ask if she is okay. About if things are improving? So she knows she has someone there for her. I'm sorry if my advice is bad.

Happycheeks has a good idea. Ask her how things are and if she is okay. Let her know that you are there to talk to if she needs someone to talk to. Sometimes just knowing there is someone that will listen if you need it is a great comfort to those who are struggling.

Thanks a lot Typo and happycheeks, I think that's the wisest course of action to take right now.

(BTW, your advice wasn't bad at all, cheeks )