A real friend hears “I’m fine” and asks one more time.

Fine is what people say when they do not want to be a burden, or when the words are not ready yet. Often it is a quiet check for whether there is room for a longer answer. Asking once more, gently and without pushing, is how you say the room is there. A lot of the conversations that mattered most to somebody started on the second ask.

If a friend seems off, come back to it later in the day rather than pressing right away. Be specific and mention what you noticed. If they still say fine, leave the door open instead of forcing it.