There are no happy endings here, only realistic ones. Real life. What a sobering thought. But, that's all it is and all it'll ever be. Seeing something slip way, but realizing there was never any slipping, because in order to make that statement, let's face it, you have to be in a position to let something slip away. If anything, you only could hope to stand on the hood of your car and squint to see it and even then, who's to say it's only a mirage. Get it now? It's fake, a phony, bullshit, whatever cute word or analogy you wanna use. It doesn't matter anyway and maybe it never did. Because this is life and in life, the good guy doesn't always get the call or the last second shot clangs off the backboard to the right and the buzzer sounds, or and here's the worst, most cynical and sadly, the most realistic explanation: the bad guy wins.

See, that's why we immerse ourselves in movies, books, daydreams, etc.etc.etc. We do so because this is real life and whether you agree with me or not, the bad guy wins. And unlike fantasy THIS is the usual outcome.