How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Jarrod really did change rooms. Now, so early in the morning, he and Sylvie were coming and going together. There was no doubt they'd spent the whole night in the same room.

Elodie suddenly felt sick to her stomach.

She turned away from the two of them, slipped back into her room, and rushed to the bathroom, trying to throw up—anything, just to get rid of that nauseous feeling.

But nothing came up.

Her appetite had been terrible lately. Maybe things were even worse for her than she'd realized.

Elodie stared at her pale, hollow-eyed reflection in the mirror, a chill crawling up her spine.

People are so fragile, she thought.

At least she could be grateful she'd woken up before things became truly irreversible.

She still had time to become herself again.

With a determined breath, Elodie touched up her makeup, determined not to look so worn out.

She asked the innkeeper to arrange a car to take her back down the mountain. Just then, her grandmother called.

grandfather gone early, Rosemary had poured all her energy into raising her

grew even more quiet-except

before answering, making

have breakfast?" Rosemary asked, her

warmth bloom in her chest.

nothing urgent. I just finished knitting two scarves for you and Jarrod. The weather's getting colder, and these will keep you warm. When can you come by to

looked down, guilt flickering in her eyes. "Grandma, you really don't

insisted. "I know life isn't easy for you, married into a family like his. There's not much I can do to help, so I do what I can. Be good to Jarrod, all right? If he has any conscience,

burned. She wiped the corner of her eyes with her fingertip. "He's

Rosemary said, not missing a beat. "Can you both come by in

had been so long since Rosemary had seen Elodie and Jarrod together, and she clearly

considered it and finally agreed, "Alright. I'll try my

to her grandmother about the divorce he owed her that

grandmother, even the biggest problems had to have a

ever know the truth-that Jarrod had cheated. It would only upset her and take a toll on her health. Better to find a gentler explanation, to say they

Jarrod needed

hesitation, Elodie left her room and

noticed it