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.

stern, no-nonsense woman. With Elodie's grandfather gone early, Rosemary had poured all her energy into raising

grew even more quiet-except when

before answering, making sure

have breakfast?" Rosemary asked, her tone gentle

felt a warmth bloom in her chest. "I'm eating now. Missing me

softly. "It's 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 pick them up? Maybe stay for dinner-I'll make your favorite sweet

"Grandma, you really don't

not much I can do to help, so I do what I can.

eyes with her fingertip. "He's

not missing a beat.

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

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

Jarrod should be the one to talk to her grandmother about the divorce he owed her that much. At least they

the biggest problems

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

was something Jarrod needed to

a moment's hesitation, Elodie left her room and walked down

noticed it