When we first became friends, I knew her mum had cancer - she was pretty casual about it, quite light-hearted. She mentioned at one point being on her way to sort out her will, but didn't go into much depth. Not too long ago she told me that she was stopping treatment, but again it was a pretty brief conversation. She told me two nights ago she's been given three months and now I don't know what to do.

Part of the problem is I live in the UK, she lives in Canada. We only talk through iMessage and Facetime but we've been doing that for about a year and I do consider her absolutely one of my best friends and she has plans to visit this summer. 

When she messaged me to tell me it was about 2am here and we only talked for about 20 minutes. I just said the first things that came to mind, that maybe it'll be longer (although I didn't want to suggest she might be okay, I know she won't), to make the most of the time she has, that I love her and would be around for her (and so would her boyfriend) and that the world is fucking cruel sometimes.

Since then, I'm just stuck. I texted to ask how she was yesterday, that was pretty awkward. Today she sent me a screenshot of a text she'd sent to her ex-boyfriend letting him know since they were together quite a while and he got on well with her mum, he didn't reply so we just slated him for a while. We haven't spoken much other than that, but we don't talk like non-stop every day anyway so that's not too odd.

I just don't know how to help her. I don't want to offer just generic standard condolences, but it just feels really awkward to be my usual self and have our usual conversations, it feels like I'm acting like it's nothing. Any advice on things to say, how to deal with this or even other subs that might be helpful would be appreciated.
user
close long distance friend's mother is dying, not
assistant
When we first became friends, I knew her mum had cancer - she was pretty casual about it, quite light-hearted. She mentioned at one point being on her way to sort out her will, but didn't go into much depth. Not too long ago she told me that she was stopping treatment, but again it was a pretty brief conversation. She told me two nights ago she's been given three months and now I don't know what to do.

Part of the problem is I live in the UK, she lives in Canada. We only talk through iMessage and Facetime but we've been doing that for about a year and I do consider her absolutely one of my best friends and she has plans to visit this summer. 

When she messaged me to tell me it was about 2am here and we only talked for about 20 minutes. I just said the first things that came to mind, that maybe it'll be longer (although I didn't want to suggest she might be okay, I know she won't), to make the most of the time she has, that I love her and would be around for her (and so would her boyfriend) and that the world is fucking cruel sometimes.

Since then, I'm just stuck. I texted to ask how she was yesterday, that was pretty awkward. Today she sent me a screenshot of a text she'd sent to her ex-boyfriend letting him know since they were together quite a while and he got on well with her mum, he didn't reply so we just slated him for a while. We haven't spoken much other than that, but we don't talk like non-stop every day anyway so that's not too odd.

I just don't know how to help her. I don't want to offer just generic standard condolences, but it just feels really awkward to be my usual self and have our usual conversations, it feels like I'm acting like it's nothing. Any advice on things to say, how to deal with this or even other subs that might be helpful would be appreciated.
user
Best friend's mum has cancer and I feel
assistant