How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Out of nowhere, Elodie was startled.

She stepped aside quickly.

A girl's anxious voice called from behind her. "I'm so sorry! My drone just

malfunctioned and went out of control. Are you hurt?"

Elodie turned to see a teenage girl, maybe sixteen, dressed in a hospital gown. Her doll-like face, pretty and fresh, was full of concern.

Elodie shook her head. "No, I'm fine."

The girl let out a visible sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. I'm not sure what happened it suddenly stopped responding."

Elodie glanced at the rogue drone hovering nearby, then offered the dessert box she was carrying. "Would you mind if I took a look at it for you?"

The girl's eyes widened in surprise. "Of course not!"

She took the box from Elodie, peeking inside at the small batch of cookies. Her entire face lit up.

Elodie powered down the drone and examined it. "Looks like a navigation system glitch. It's not following the preset route. Let me check if it's a gyroscope or sensor calibration issue."

The girl watched her in awe. "Wow, you really know your stuff!"

Elodie made a few quick adjustments and handed the drone back. "It should be much better now. Want to give it a try?"

girl launched the drone again, and this time it responded

"Freya Delacroix!"

rang out behind them. Elodie turned to see Joseph hurrying

the sight of him, Freya

short, surprised to see Elodie. "Ms.

Elodie asked, "You're her...?"

at Freya with obvious relief. "She's my sister. She's not well, and she snuck out of her room. I've

shook her

unwillingness to linger. Her manner was polite,

together, not sure

other?" Freya piped up, eyes bright

word "friends," Elodie's

call it

their relationship

and hesitated, finally saying, "We've known each other a

glanced between them, puzzled. For some reason, her brother seemed awkward around this

lot to her, and this woman was clearly brilliant-she

Joseph noticed. "It's

Elodie said. She couldn't bring herself to turn

my drone! Maybe I could

smiled faintly. "It was

the cookies in Freya's arms. "I made

ahead and