You are smart to think about how you respond to W's email about her aunt's cancer. First, I would call W and not send an email or text. And keep the focus on your W, and not you - 'how are you doing?', 'how does this make you feel?', nothing about you and how sorry you are about this.
You know your W, what may be her fears about the aunt's cancer? Was she close to the aunt? Is cancer something W or her family have gone thru before? Speak from your heart to best be a support for your W, but do not use this to try and pursue your W. Best wishes.
