I normally don't reply because by the time I get ready to everyone has basically said what I was going to say anyways. I've been reading your stories for a long time and patiently wait for your updates. You are by far my favorite writer and the reason I keep coming back. So if for some god for saken reason you have to take a year off I'd respect that and anticipate your next post.
As for stories with out a happy ending have you read Mark Roeder "The soccer field is empty" anyways I don't think I have ever read a book that has left me as devasted as this one. I cried for three days straight. And like the true sap that I am I will pick it up and reread it expecting a different ending. So I guess what I am saying is that even if the story has an unhappy ending as long as the charecters touch you, you will read it.