Character Analysis
Anna is Malcolm's wife. And when we first meet her, it seems like they're still in the honeymoon period. Lots of love between these two, that's for sure.
There's just one issue: Malcolm sometimes neglects their relationship in favor of his work as a child psychologist. She's not exactly complaining, but she does get a little offended when Malcolm tries to laugh off an award he's received for his life of service, since all that commitment to his job has meant lots of sacrifice for their family:
ANNA: Finally, someone is recognizing the sacrifices you've made—that you have put everything second, including me, for those families that they're talking about.
That little dig about his work ethic aside, the two seem very devoted to each other. In fact, after that discussion of his award, the couple seem like they're headed toward some very serious sexytimes…
...until they realize there's a madman in their bathroom.
Said madman shoots Malcolm, and Anna spends the rest of the film as a widow struggling with her love for Malcolm and the pressure to move on with her life.
Of course, since Shyamalan misleads us into thinking Malcolm's still alive for most of the film, we think he and Anna are just estranged, and that Malcolm's career plus the stress of the Vincent incident has led to a state of radio silence between them.
We see Anna getting close (like, in a romantic way) to her employee, Sean, and assume she struggles with that budding relationship because she's still married. Really, it's because she still hasn't let Malcolm go after his death.
We're not sure what happens to Anna after Malcolm finally realizes he's dead, but it seems like they kind of both say their goodbyes (even if Anna's are in her sleep). Since Malcolm appears ready to leave his earthly life behind at the end, all peaceful and Swayze-like, we can assume that maybe Anna might also be somehow freer to move forward with her future.
Not having the spirit of your dead husband around would probably be helpful with that, anyway.