C stands for condolences.

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An expression of sympathy for the bereaved people we care about. It sounds so useless when you say it and somehow even worse when it's said to you.
The sympathiser knows there's nothing they could do to ease your pain, your confusion. I said it to someone this past week and felt so powerless. I knew nothing I did would change anything. Then there's the fear that something you do or say is going to remind them of their loss or make them sadder still.

I didn't know how to respond to the expression when I was grieving. I felt that people couldn't possibly understand or feel as I did. We all grieve differently. Some people would zone out for long periods, have mood swings ...

We have to accept it. All we can do is share our seemingly powerless condolences, listen when they're ready and have a bounty of patience to wait out the silent periods and the mood swings. Yes! and actively take care of them if and when they let us or sometimes even if they don't want to. It may seem like nothing but it's helpful really.