: Mature themes push past simple lessons (e.g., "Love is good") to harder truths (e.g., "Sometimes love is not enough").
: Authors of mature stories are not afraid to push characters to points of despair, allowing them to experience real loss of relationships, dreams, or failures. "Deep Stories" in Life Narratives post matures
: Actions, especially life-altering events like death or loss, must have irreversible consequences that characters must build upon rather than simply "fix". : Mature themes push past simple lessons (e