How do you think Charlotte might reinvent herself if she no feels responsible for needing to "rescue" Lucy?

Charlotte has always imagined herself as being responsible for Lucy, as inevitably needing to "rescue" her. How do you think she might reinvent herself if she no longer plays this role?

I think she'll be more free in that she will be able to make choices based on what she wants/needs in life as opposed to having to consider Lucy's needs.

Charlotte is a strong-willed and intelligent woman. She will return to school and complete her studies to become a veterinarian.

Charlotte is strong. She will not have to completely reinvent herself. She will be free to focus on the things she wants out of life. She will return to college and have the time to study and to become a vet. I think she will always be a "Rescuer" in the sense that she will still worry about Iris.

Although I agree it's likely Charlotte will finish school and become a veterinarian, I started to explore another idea...what if, now Charlotte is free from worrying about Lucy or Iris, she totally changes her course in life. Lucy's untimely death might cause her to rethink her strategy and say "screw being responsible"! She could sell everything she owns, pack light, and travel for a few years...before settling down to school/career/sensible life. I'd like that for her

I liked Charlotte because she is strong. I don't think she would completely reinvent herself. I believe that she would finally move on from this, finish school and become a veterinarian because she can now be more focused on her own life.

I agree with the comments that she wouldn't totally reinvent herself, in that she'll have the same career goal, and that she'll likely always feel the need to take care of others. I do believe, however, that she will make changes in how she approaches life. At the end of the book, Charlotte realized that trying to plan out and control every event in ones life can be very limiting. She admired Lucy's way of just going out and trying to make your life happen, taking risks. I think the major change for Charlotte will be trying to muster the courage to take those risks. She was off to a good start with that when, at the end of the book, she decided to go see Patrick, because that's what she "felt like doing right now". She thought later that's it ok to admit she didn't know what was going to happen. I felt hopeful for Charlotte!

I really like jennie r's idea about Charlotte taking off to travel and see the world for a few years. She's always been such a caretaker that i really like this idea for her. I don't think she'd do it though because she'd want to stay around for Iris. But maybe when Iris is gone she would be free to do something just for herself.

I don't think people reinvent themselves after a loved one dies in such a terrible way, at least not for a very long time. Although she certainly felt responsible for Lucy, she had also moved into a place of frustration in that role. Charlotte was already reinventing herself - part of why she didn't go to Lucy as soon as the phone rang. I would hope she would continue down the path she started before Lucy died, but I'm afraid she would fall into guilt and despair - I certainly think I would. Not that I think she has any guilt whatsoever, but the human mind can play awful tricks n us in our lowest moments.

I believe Charlotte would be able to focus on Vet school and graduate, however she would be sad, maybe depressed and feel guilty about Lucy. This guilt would probably interfere with her interpersonal relationships with women and men.