Alex Aster is the managing editor of The Newsette, and, as a part of our new Ask Alex series, she tackles some of our readers’ most pressing questions, in an effort to bring a new perspective to the table. Today, Alex answers a question about possible infidelity.

Dear Alex,

I’m in a tough spot. Someone I know casually (let’s call her S) told me a rumor about a guy we know hooking up with a girl at a party. The problem? That guy is dating my best friend, and has been for over a year. I don’t know S well enough to completely trust her information, and obviously don’t know who started this rumor. I don’t want to cause problems in my best friend’s relationship over what could be nothing, but also feel guilty keeping my mouth shut. What should I do?

A: Being the messenger is always hard. Worse than delivering bad news? Delivering news you can’t verify to be true. Think—if you were in this situation, what would you want your friend to do for you? Realize first the impact this might have on your friend. This isn’t just a juicy piece of gossip–as you know. This is her life, her relationship, involving someone she probably loves.

Thinking about this might make you more empathetic, which is key when dealing with sensitive information.

Then, tell your friend the facts. That you don’t know if you can trust your source, but that there is a rumor going around that her boyfriend might have been with another girl. Tell her you are there for her no matter what. Then, move out of the way, and let your friend deal with your words in the way she chooses—without you making judgments, or saying anything bad about her boyfriend. If this turns out to be a misunderstanding, or if she does end up breaking up with her bf, you won’t want to have played any bigger role beyond being a good friend.