There is a certain kind of person who asks if you are okay, hears you say fine, and then asks again.

They clocked the crack in your voice on the word. They do not make it about them. They leave a space for you to fall apart in, if you want to, and if you do not, they let it go.

They did not learn that from a book. They learned it from being the one who said fine once, years ago, meaning the opposite, and having nobody ask twice.

If you have one of these people, tell them you noticed. If you are one, let someone ask you.