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.

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

passed away, Rosemary grew even more quiet-except when it came

Elodie cleared her throat before answering, making sure

breakfast?" Rosemary asked, her tone gentle for

her chest. "I'm eating

colder, and these will keep you

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

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.

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

beat. "Can you both

since Rosemary had seen Elodie and Jarrod together, and she clearly

it and finally agreed, "Alright. I'll

grandmother about the divorce he owed her that much. At least

even the biggest

her and take a toll on her health. Better to find a gentler explanation, to say they just weren't right for each

something Jarrod needed

room and walked down the hall toward

noticed it