FACE-OFF: Zeitgeist vs Timothy

My Timothy has consulted with me over the past few years on a WIP project. They unequivocally wanted the MC to deal with a certain realistic pain. In the story, someone important was going to die at the end of book one as a self-sacrifice but also because of the MC’s late arrival to her needed character development. It turns the story into a tragedy.

However, looking FORWARD, as the Zeitgeist is shifting, I wonder if this is actually what my Timothy WANTS or what they WANTED in fiction. And if I should build this series out for the direction my Timothy (should be/will be) moving versus where they are now.

It’s the BORDERLINE conundrum.