hi dear! I’m so sorry for the grief my story gave you. It was lucky in the seen that Shelley got what she originally wanted: Matthew, her family, professional fulfillment. But no amount of luck can erase the natural pain that is part of life. without pain, there wouldn’t be ecstasy, right? More importantly, Shelley died luckily — it wasn’t a very painful, prolonged death. She died with dignity at home surrounded by loved ones. As for that last goodbye... I’d say it was pretty darn lucky to have lived a life with SOOOOOO much love that saying goodbye would be such a source of grief. It’s all about perspective, dear. Truthfully the story could have ended at three other places. Chapter 126, when Shelley and Matthew kissed at the beach before Alfred’s birth... or Chapter 130, wedding night. Maybe even Chapter 131, with Solomon revisiting. But as a reader, with this story being so much about the cycle of life and death, it had to end with death since so much about the epilogue was about life and it’s beauty. Thank you so much for having me write that! it was a lot of fun to reason through this, honestly. Hope the story remains in your heart forevermore and that you don’t resent me too much ♥️