There are some things that you don't have to experience to know the outcome.
Some roads don't have to be walked before you know how difficult they are.
In the story, they couldn't find a way out and followed them away in the darkness before dawn.
Outside the story, they don't know which road they are walking on. There may be thorns along the way, but they hope to finally reach the other side of light.
In the story, we are heartbroken and cry at the ending.
What can we, outside the story, give them outside the story?