From the Other Side (NaNoWriMo)

Before the world was thrust into a pandemic I wrote a short story titled "From the Other Side." This was originally a short story that I wrote for the NYC Midnight Short Story competition. Instead of trying, and failing like I usually do with NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), I decided to turn it into the 50k novel I always wanted it to be. I was frustrated writing it and wished I had more room to fully develop the romance as well as the tragedy. This year, I'm going to complete the 50,000 word goal by rewriting this story.

After Rhea's grandmother has a deadly recurrence of cancer, her mother forces her to meet with an old friend to help her sort through her grief. What happens when Alex, someone she hasn't spoken with in years, becomes a much more prominent figure in Rhea's already crazy life?

EXCERPT:
He stops for a second. "Look, I came here because we're friends, not because I'm using my super-secret therapy powers on you." The coffee sitting in front of him is slowly cooling, no longer steaming like it was a few minutes ago. "I know you feel like you want to shut the world out, that solitude might seem like the safest place, but saying something, anything, is always better. It doesn't have to be a lot. Anything can help as long as you want it to."
"I've been told that so many times, but I'm not sure how much I believe it yet." I brush a lock of hair behind my ear. "I'm sorry you use up time from your busy schedule. I know you have more important patients than an old acquaintance with a dying grandmother."
"I can assure you, even though it might not seem like it, every problem is the same size. It's the fact that you're not only struggling with it, but that you're also a friend that makes it worth my time." He takes a long sip of his now lukewarm latte. "You have my number, right?"
"Yeah, my mom made sure I had your new one before I left," I look over at him.