I know you're looking for advice on what to say to someone who just wants to be friends, but I'm going to give you the most important tip first: don't listen.    The truth is, this person needs your friendship more than they've ever needed it before. And if you want a long-term relationship with them—even if that's not what they're after right now—you need to step up and take care of their emotional needs. It may seem like an overwhelming task at first, but once you understand why they're doing this and how it makes sense in their life, taking care of them will become second nature."