Finally, repackage your ending. Does a happy ending have to be a wedding? In 2024, a happy ending might be: They decide to live in separate houses but vacation together. Or: They have a baby, but they are not "in love"—they are a perfect parenting partnership. The more specific and realistic the resolution, the more satisfying the repack.

They will be relieved.

Relationships in fiction generally follow one of four primary arcs: