Sometimes the only alternative is to tell your friend the truth, even if it hurts them. It's our opinion; it doesn't have to be the most universal fact ever known to men, but if we care for our friend, it's ok to try to say it.
When we're going through a hard time, like the woman from this story, we might think we're doing the best we can and other people are to blame for our failings. Precisely because we fail to see our implication in whatever's happening to us, we need an honest friend by our side.
We should all destigmatise desperation. Society sends the message that we are running late for love from the minute we turn 27, and then expects us not to be desperate by 30 if we still haven't found the one. It's only natural to feel that, and we should create safe spaces to talk about it so it doesn't take over.
It's true that desperation can scare someone away, but the solution isn't to be just as desperate and force ourselves not to show it; a third option is to find a way to not feel desperate at all. That's where good friends come in, and good friends should tell us the hard truth if they think they can help us, because they prioritise our long-term well-being over short-term discomfort.
You can always phrase a declaration like this as an opinion, because that's what it is in the end, and try to make it as soft as possible without sugarcoating it. In the end, it will be our friend's choice to take it or reject it, but we've done our part and offered to help through the process.
At least, that's what I would like my friends to do if they saw me struggling with an issue that's part of my responsibility without me knowing it. Would you do the same?