My two friends broke up. How can I be there for them?

Advice Needed

I (27, F) have known Sean (29, M) and Ruby (26, F) since about July 2024. I moved into a new place with two roommates, this one guy and Sean. I had not known Sean previously but he seemed like a nice guy. I had heard before moving in that Sean had a girlfriend and I was really excited to meet her and was hoping we would get along. I wanted her to get to know me and hopefully be comfortable with me living with her boyfriend and know I was not like a threat or anything. It did not take long for me to absolutely love them both. Sean and I trauma-bonded because of our other roommate, and Ruby and I really just got along so very well. We would all three go out together, to food, to the zoo, it really was great.

A year into living there, I could not take it anymore because of the other roommate. I needed to move and conveniently enough, Ruby’s roommate was moving out so she needed a new one. She would stay at the house a couple nights a week so we knew we could live together well and it ended up working out perfectly. I moved in around September 2025. The three of us got even closer in that time. We would hang out more, they would introduce me to their friends, we would go out a few times a month, have family dinners and holidays together, truly the best. My chosen family really.

Today, they came over together, like usual, but when we were all sitting together, they broke the news that last night they decided they will no longer be together. Maybe not forever, but they are breaking up. It is a healthy break up and there is still love between them but that they are breaking up. We talked about it for a bit but there isn’t really much I can necessarily say because it is not my relationship obviously. They wanted to tell me together and don’t expect me to choose sides and there isn’t a side to choose, I love them both very much.

Obviously, I am devastated about it. I love them and want to support them any way that I can. I just don’t know how. How can I be there for them both and maintain respecting the other person? Is there anything I can do to show that support?

Posted Mar 6, 2026, 4:20 AM UTC

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