Why does my friend think I'm responsible for this?

Asked by LeavesNoTrace (5674) February 4th, 2014 from iPhone

My ex and his long distance girlfriend split due to an irreconcilable argument that had nothing to do with me. In fact she has no idea I exist. My ex and I have feelings for one another which we’ve expressed recently but have had no outlet for. We decided not to pursue anything due to him being tethered to someone else which I respected.

He’s stayed with this person because she’s a nice girl (I truly believe she is) but he’s not in love with her and has mostly felt obligated to stay with her due to her emotional instability and and dependence on him. She has a history of mental illness and is prescribed meds.

Apparently after the breakup she’s in a psych ward on suicide watch. I feel bad for her but I don’t know the girl and also strongly suspect it’s emotional blackmail. While I’m not entirely unsympathetic, I feel like it would be disingenuous to act more upset than i actually am. I don’t know this girl and she doesn’t know me. Hopefully it’s nothing serious but definitely not a healthy situation and strongly smacks of a manipulative move on her part. But please believe me when I say that I take no pleasure in this.

My friend says I’m likely responsible for him wanting to leave her so therefore I’m also responsible for her suicidal thoughts and being in a mental hospital. I don’t know what to think. I don’t think this has anything to do with me and honestly want to distance myself from it