Well, I myself often read to escape my own life, but I'm not always looking for the happy ending, I'm just looking for a good book to read. If its well written, then I'm happy no matter the outcome.
I was going to mention a few books that don't have happy endings and people keep on reading them and liking them and then I thought you might have not read them yet, and that I might spoil the book for you and for everyone that might read your message board hahahaha
Anyways, you really thought it would end in suicide? I have never viewed it that way, to be honest. That's interesting, in the new perspective kind of way.