empathy

I've always had a strong capacity for empathy. In general I look upon it as a curse. Take tonight for instance. Talking to a friend on the phone (actually, not talking, mostly just listening), as she is so angry and hurt and depressed and confused and everything you could ever imagine, I can feel the physical pain inside of me. And there's nothing I can say to make it better, or even ease her suffering, and so I suffer alongside her. I know that this is the blood and guts of real friendship. But it would be so much easier to be able to listen and not incorporate her pain into myself. Perhaps it's actually a flaw? Hard to say where the line is I guess.