Disregard if you're not looking for advice, but,
In your position, I might respond with something like "You have my sympathy, but I'm afraid I cannot be there for you in this situation."
That sounds. Really Vulcan (I've been watching a lot of Star Trek) BUT saying something like that would assuage the guilt of not responding at all, while politely informing her that she's not allowed to dump on you like this anymore.
i responded to her with “I’m sorry to hear that”which i feel was like the most i can respond with to a two word text. she hasn’t texted back but if she does i’m just gonna have to say that i don’t have the capacity to help. i’d be extremely uncomfortable and drained and it’d be for nothing because i wouldn’t be able to give her any genuinely adequate comfort. honestly i would’ve preferred if she sent a long emotional text about the dog so i’d have something to reflect but sending a dry two word update with zero emotion in it just puts it on me to inject the conversation with emotion which was part of the giving i’d always be doing and i can’t i’m tired and i’m trying to figure out what my life looks like without constantly giving her most of my free time and all the energy i could manage
