Betty,
This story was certainly a tragedy. Given that it was the first story of Terry's that you've read, I just want to encourage you to try some of his others on the archive or these boards. They're not all nearly this dark. There's usually a bit of grit involved, but often a very happy ending. So if you just don't like WHAMMY stories, don't write Terry off. He can write WAFFY, too, although he claims it's not his strong suit. Play Me Some Mountain Music would be a nice balancing sample, for example.
And if you need a WAFF fest to get the taste out of your mouth, I suggest an archive author search for Kaethel. Practically guaranteed smoochies every time.
