‘Emma’ ended on a cliffhanger. At the end of the story, Emma dies suddenly. Soon after, her husband, Jack and Dory's mother, Mrs. Robinson gets married and Maria and Dorian are sent to boarding school. This technique creatively allowed the reader to experience multiple emotions at once, learn a valuable lesson and speculate their happy ending.

No one could have predicted that the short story ‘Emma’ would have ended in such chaos. After learning of Emma’s unfair treatment and Dorian’s innocence throughout the chaos, these issues are expected to be resolved in the end. However, it did not and this caused the reader to feel sad, frustrated, angry, and disappointed. Emma experienced jealousy from her closest friend Mr. Robinson and neglect and adultery from her husband Jack. She also had to watch her daughter Dorian miss out on all the fun times she should have had with her father, Jack. Since Jack was never home early, Emma would have to play the role of both mother and father to Dorian. All the worry, loneliness, and pain Emma felt were not resolved. When she saw Jack with the lady at the train station, she ran away in pain and died in a vehicle accident. It is disappointing that Emma did not get the justice she deserved. It is also frustrating to know that Mrs. Robinson who always envied Emma married Jack. Why did Jack have to obtain a happy ending by happily marrying another woman? It is even sadder that little Dorian and Maria have to attend boarding school, away from their home, parents, and community.

Nevertheless, a valuable lesson was learned. Carolyn Cole ended ‘Emma’ on a cliffhanger so readers can learn that not all stories have happy endings. In reality, people may die before having issues resolved. Emma did not get to make Jack hurt the way he hurt her. Instead, Jack had a happy ending with his new wife, Mrs. Robinson. In addition, Dorian and Maria are now without the mother they both admire and love. The mother they spent most of their time with. They are off to boarding school away from the life that they are accustomed to. The reader can only imagine a happy ending for Maria and Dorian.

Furthermore, it is up to the reader to create a happy ending for this story after reading it. It can be assumed that Maria and Dorian will have a better life at boarding school rather than living with Mrs. Robinson and Jack does not like spending time with their children. Maria and Dorian will take care of each other and will continue to aspire to become just like Emma. Emma’s happy ending will be that both Maria and Dorian have learned from her and will be great mothers and friends when they are adults.

In conclusion, the short story ‘Emma’ by Carolyn Cole ended on a cliffhanger, in which Emma died, and the little girls go to boarding school. There was no resolution as expected. Ending this short story on a cliffhanger is constructive because it made room for emotional discussions, learning of lessons, and wonder. Thus, ‘Emma’ will be one of the most memorable short stories a person will ever read.