A Friday night guest felt compelled to serve me up a post-chicken helping of this succinct piece of advice: Make Gila divorce Mottie.

If you’ve been following my serialized story Charades you’ll know exactly who Gila and Mottie are and also exactly why my earnest young guest wanted them to get divorced. For those who need a bit of insider information Mottie is an abusive husband who ran away from his family and community after making an error with grave ramifications rather than face his mistakes.

This is not the first time I have been entreated to “divorce” my characters. A highly intelligent sincere individual sent me a very eloquent e-mail pleading with me not to end the story happily. Such an ending she wrote would be an affront to all those who have suffered — and continue to suffer — domestic abuse. “Once an abuser always an abuser ” came her plaintive cry.

Fiction is a powerful tool. Its message seeps in with remarkable ability much more so than nonfiction. It is a strange phenomenon perhaps but stories seem to draw in readers to the point that they live the story. Watching the novel unfold is more than just entertainment; it is on some level a form of living vicariously feeling the characters’ ups and downs with real empathy.

This is why comments such as the one issued by my recent guest are not uncommon and I accept and respect them. I know that many readers who are following Charades can relate to its themes in a variety of ways. I know that those who ask me to work the plot to their preference may very well be speaking from a desperate desire to see their own story told — or altered. Those whose lives have been touched by abuse want catharsis — they want their stories told but the authentic version not some fantasy sugar-coated tale. There may even be an element in some who hunger for more: closure perhaps maybe even revenge against the abuser.

In writing this story I have done careful research and put plenty of thought (and prayer!) into developing the plot. Of course I would feel most gratified if all Charades readers cheered rapturously at my choice of twists turns and the final stretch. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this business it’s that you can’t please everyone all the time and that’s okay. What I have told everyone who has commented on my plot plan for Charades is this: I will b’ezras Hashem make the ending real. More than that I cannot say. One of my foremost themes in all of my writing is hope that essential ingredient for survival inspiration and joyous living and Charades is infused with hope as are all my books. But false hope is (hopefully!) not on the agenda.

I am curious though to hear your thoughts on what you think the best ending for Charades ought to be. Leave me your comments below!

And to all those readers who identify with Charades: May your wounds be healed and your spirit made whole; may you be blessed with dignity respect and courage. Amen.