— What’s your character’s idea of a perfect future? What do they want to do? Where do they dream of ending up, in a perfect world? Are they still in politics? If so, what position? How is their personal life? Where are they living, what are they doing? Why is this their perfect outcome?
For fifteen years, Gabrielle’s idea of a perfect future was wrapped up in Theresa Wright. Theresa would finish her time as President, and they would finally leave politics behind. With any worry about her political reputation behind them, they would finally get to betogether. They would marry - something small and private, but there. In her perfect future, they would adopt, perhaps a daughter, and live out the rest of their lives in Charlotte or Raleigh. Their lives would never be what they had been before the Presidency, but she wouldn’t mind - she would be content to serve as a role model for her daughter and for young Black girls in the world. She might return to do something locally in North Carolina - fight gun violence and poverty. They would grow old together, watch their daughter grow up, and spend all the time together they could. They would have long, full lives.
— In contrast, what do you, as a writer, see actually happening?Is it the same? If not, how does it differ from your character’s dream, and why do you see things going this way instead?
Gabrielle’s idea of a perfect future died and was buried with Theresa. There’s no knowing what any sort of future for her without Theresa looks like - after fifteen years together, life without her feels like uncharted territory.
But Gabrielle Coleman is a survivor. She can make her own destiny with time. She’ll mourn Theresa for a while, to be sure, but eventually she will pick up and move on. She’ll likely stay at the White House for a while, helping Julian through the transition period into his Presidency. But from then on, it’s a blank canvas. I think it’s likely she will carry out some of her dreams. She’ll do her best to have a positive impact on the world in whatever way opens up to her. She’ll be Theresa’s biggest champion in death just as she was in life, defending her from anyone who might try to damage her reputation. She’d still certainly like to foster or adopt a child, be a mother. She’ll probably eventually move back to North Carolina and be with her family, and maybe get back into social work or local politics like she was before. She might even, in time, open her heart again, and find someone to love.
If anything, she’s learned now that the future is unpredictable. Nothing is promised - so the most likely prediction for Gabrielle’s future is that she’s just going to take it one day at a time.
