What can I do to help my friend

[Meikyo]

I really put my foot in it today with a girl I know at work and I feel awful. I knew she had a little dog which was unwell last week and, without thinking, I asked her how the dog was doing. She told me that the dog has died. Apparently others in the office knew but I didn't. I start work a bit later than the others due to school drop off so I didn't know.

I hugged her and said how sorry I was but I still feel awful. We work in an open office so everybody else heard. Is there anything I can do?

You've already hugged her and said sorry. She won't be cross that you didn't know until later than the others. You know you weren't being deliberately obtuse, and if any of your co-workers are being funny about the matter, that's their problem not yours.

Thanks, Imperial. I lost my older cat a couple of years ago and it really hurt so I know she must be going through hell.

You only asked because you cared and were lovely afterwards. It's worse when people walk on egg shells and say nothing, then you think nobody gives a damn....don't even think about it again.

Don't worry about it, you showed sympathy and that's about as much as I'd expect from a work colleague. In fact most of my work colleagues comments were "it's only a rabbit" when my house rabbit died, anyone who doesn't have pets and even some who do just don't get how attached you can be to an animal.