"Hey, I'd never blame anyone for burying themselves in work. I know how that goes." She's definitely done it, more than once.

"I never really know what's OK to ask? Not like I think most people I know would get offended, just more... I don't want to bring up something painful through ignorance. I know the Circles were different from each other, but it sounds like there were varying experiences even for people in the same particular Circle."