“A happy ending … depends, of course, on where you stop your story.”

– Orson Welles, American actor and film-maker

“What the hell?”

I was 14 and had just invested two weeks of my life – every night before bed and occasionally during classes – reading a young adult novel from the school library. The story was intriguing, and the characters well-drafted. I hung on tight through the many twists and turns, anticipating a positive outcome. When the ending finally arrived, I was so disappointed I yelled out loud. I reread the final pages and then fired the book against the bedroom wall.

I fell back onto my pillow, feeling cheated. The ending of the book was gritty and real and a little bit sad. At the time, I felt my l...

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