How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

"I'm sorry, Miss Elodie Thorne. You missed the optimal window for surgery..."

Elodie stood frozen for a long time, clutching the diagnosis confirming her uterine cancer, before she finally dialed Jarrod Silverstein's secretary, Keith.

The line rang endlessly before he picked up, his tone as flippant as ever. "Yes, Mrs. Silverstein? Can I help you?"

Elodie's fingers curled, stiff and cold. "Is Jarrod there? I need to speak with him."

"Mr. Silverstein is unavailable at the moment," Keith replied.

"Please, could you put him on—"

She didn't even finish before another voice floated through the receiver-a woman's voice, gentle and sweet. "Jarrod," she teased, "what's this surprise? Why all the secrecy?"

"Look up," came Jarrod's deep, familiar voice-so gentle, yet never for her.

A second later, Keith cut the call without hesitation.

At that very moment-

Boom-

An explosion thundered from across the harbor. Elodie looked up, her face drained of color.

Brilliant fireworks burst over the distant waterfront, streaks of color twisting together in the midnight blue sky-beautiful, like something out of a fairy tale.

had gathered

Silverstein from The Silverstein Group. He threw this whole fireworks show for his

are fighting to hire her. She's

wonder Mr. Silverstein is so crazy about her. Who wouldn't be

test results crumpling in her hand until finally, the thin paper slipped from

and walked

Later that night.

find Elodie sitting

the lights, frowning. "Why aren't you in

was slung over his arm, and his dark eyes- cold and unreadable as

used to think his indifference was just

was ice in her arms could burn like fire

sleep," her voice was barely more than a whisper. "I went to the

couch,

weeks. He'd promised to go with her, but there was always some billion-dollar deal or urgent crisis at work to

her he'd come along. But then he

office in a rush just in time to arrange the

spared a thought for

nothing. The doctor said just wait and see," Elodie

hesitated for a moment, then

into his arms, his breath hot against her neck, voice low