Oh god, you're asking me to dig deep. My son wasn't even a thought yet when I watched/read the road.

I'll have to rewatch the end or reread it, but I felt It wanted the reader to hold on to hope for the child, for humanity. That despite the darkest of dark days, they shall pass.

It's been a while so forgive me for not remembering, but I just remember thinking "man, I don't want that world for anyone."

It was brutal, and it was depressing. Something I think a lot of end of the world stories, games, and movies get wrong. It wouldn't be fun it wouldn't be an adventure. It would be torture and pain with suffering shoved in every crack.

Fuck. I'm gonna have to reread it now.

But to try to answer you. The ending wasn't really suppose to leave you with anything other than what you hoped to happen. If I remember the kid's father dies and he is picked up by another family. A mile down the road they could've been killed or something, but I at least hoped they found the place they were looking for in the end. That maybe there is a chance for humanity to come back stronger and better.

Sorry that's not what you wanted I'm not always the best at answering questions. I get nervous lol.