Don't let the bad feelings drag you under. People talk about the fear of life. And those that aren't are living in denial. I don't agree. I think that it is the small person, the insignificant individual who goes through life in a protected bubble, decrying the end of the world.
Great people take chances.
Great people become great people because of the successes and failures that they experience through taking chances. And I hope that the two of you have the opportunity to take many more chances before your epic novel comes to a close. Opportunity knocks on the front door of the individual who leaves the gate open. That is about all I wanted to tell you. Wherever I go when I die, if I have the chance to tell you about it, you can be damn sure that I will.