I have a question

When I get off work at three am on a Sunday morning, I tiptoe into my apartment, set down my stuff, grab a snack and my computer. Everyone is quiet, and I have a few minutes to myself to chill and write.

Tonight is a little different.

Oh sure I slip into my apartment at about 3:26am and everyone is in bed. My computer is humming softly waiting for me, slightly warm in my lap in contrast to the chilly night air I have just left. Habit takes over and I take inventory on AIM, Facebook, and Myspace: two aim messages while I was away, three pokes on Facebook, and a new message on Myspace. Nothing too unusual.

When I come back from away I am immediately messaged by three people, specifically three girls. All of them are talking about guys. What I find surprising is that all three are having serious issues with said males. And don't patronize -- I am not talking about the girls who think their boyfriends watch too much porn.

(These are not their real names but the hes and shes and girl number A stuff isn't going to cut it.)

Amy has been having issues with Drew for a while, but he keeps begging her not to break up with him and for one more chance. She knows that they aren't right for each other, not to mention that he's done things like break down her door during fights. He's in the middle of a panic attack while begging for another chance. She's asking me for help. I tell her to call an ambulance and she says it's getting better and she'll just try to stay with him a little longer. This isn't helping anyone.

One girl is trying to get out of an abusive relationship and asked for my advice on what to do. She won't go to the police. She won't go to the court. I'm not even sure she won't let him back in her dorm the next time he wants to come by.

Marie had a big crush on Bryan and they dated for a little while, then he started going back and forth between her being "his baby" and "How much is my Aunt paying you?" She has been asking for my advice over the course of the past few weeks and has decided to give up for the night and go to bed since it is now four in the morning.

These three girls are dear to me. I never feel I can do enough. Two of the girls don't live near by and I feel as though I am letting them down by not being there. I know that I am not. Even if I was there I could do little more than hug them. But I wish I could hug them one by one and tell them that everything was going to be okay and that I'd help them get through it. The only other problem is -- who am I to tell them it will all be alright?