It was the second grade, and we were just about to start the dance recital we had been preparing for months. Like a dumbass, I was standing behind the door to wait for our cue instead of standing with the rest of my dance mates. What happened next was to be expected: the dance group before us finished and...opened the door right into my face.

It hurt like hell, but I was trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill because I wanted to be brave in front of the other girls. And I'd like to think I was doing fine, and gradually the pain would go away, but then Savannah asked if I was OK. I just started bawling. I felt embarrassed, but for some reason, I just couldn't stop. Everyone just stared and eventually, the teacher came back and ushered me aside to make sure I was OK.

I wish at that time, instead of everyone looking at me from a distance and asking from there if I was OK, someone had just been with me until the teacher came back. This is probably just a consequence of being young, that kids aren't really aware of how to react in this type of situation. But as I grew older, the same type of thing would happen, proving that as we grow into adults, we don't really change this basic way of consoling another human being.

Then again, this isn't something that we have been specifically taught. We don't learn how to read others' emotions and react according to that, rather we have this rudimental way of reacting to every situation which sometimes can do more harm than good. We can only learn this as we go and actually try to improve.

So, instead of asking someone if they're OK, ask them what you can do to help if you actually want to make a difference.

Sometimes, words won't help and the next best thing — perhaps the best thing in any type of situation — is to just be with them. Every person has a different wish for comfort but almost everyone just appreciates someone there.

I don't need someone to tell me everything's gonna be OK, I just need to know that I have someone that has my back.