<human>: Can you provide a brief overview of the text?

I wasn't sure where else to put this.

So one of my best friends (M, 19) was dating a guy (also M, 17) for about five months. It was his first real relationship since he came out as gay (he'd had a girlfriend before, but it wasn't really the same). They were dating for about five to six months, and he was just broken up with. This was obviously really hard on him, being his first real break up and that, a couple weeks ago, he was playing with the idea that he might have even loved this boy.

Personally, I had gone through a really rough break up around the time he and his ex got together. Ironically, I recently got back together with my ex, and these two broke up. When I tried to comfort him in a firm but loving way, I just felt like a hypocrite ("Don't dwell on him," "You can do better," "Don't go through the breakup hoping for him to get back together with you,") because he gave me this same advice when my SO and I broke up, and I didn't take it (If I did, I obviously didn't take it very well).

The last thing I want to do is be hypocritical, because then he's going to second-guess my advice. But it kills me to see one of my best friends in so much pain; I couldn't remember the last time I saw him cry. Without giving loads of probably unwanted advice and seeming patronizing, I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do to help. I hate seeing him so hurt.

Also, he lives a few hours away from me (at a different college) so I'm sort of limited to skype and holiday breaks. He'll also be studying abroad for a semester starting January, but I'm hoping he's feeling better by then and doesn't need the support of his friends as much... but who knows.
<bot>: Best friend went through a rough break up, his first. How can I be there for him without patronizing him/physically being there? Is he better off just left alone right now?