To the friend who asked me for advice:

You need to hear one thing first: You will get through this.

It won’t be easy and there is no way to make it different from what it is and certainly if you can refrain from punching the next person who suggests that it is a blessing in disguise or a learning opportunity you are on the path to enlightenment.

Let’s not pretend. This is going to be a tough period for you.

But know this: You will find you have more strength than you realized. You will find you can give up things you thought you needed but you actually don’t.

You will need all your strength. So be careful not to undercut yourself.

You deserve better. But you will have to fight for what you deserve.

So fight!