How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

As soon as Elodie left, Maurice noticed immediately. "Why did she just leave like that?"

Jarrod glanced in her direction, spotting the untouched plate of food.

"Wow, some people really don't know how to appreciate kindness," Maurice said, shaking his head with a bored sigh. "She acts like she's doing us a favor just by being here."

Sylvie, however, kept quiet.

Of course she understood what was going on in Elodie's mind.

It was just pride-feeling slighted, thinking Jarrod was playing favorites. She was upset, and her wounded ego wouldn't let her stay any longer.

Sylvie glanced at Jarrod.

He'd already turned away, clearly not giving it a second thought.

She curled her lips into a faint smile. "When we're done eating, will you come for a walk with me?"

Jarrod nodded. "Sure."

It was Elodie's first time in Fairview Crossing, though her mother had gone to college here. On a whim, she decided to visit her mom's old campus.

She'd made a reservation ahead of time, so once she got through the gates, she wandered for a while.

Fairview University was one of the country's top art schools; her mother had studied oil painting here. Back in her day, she'd been the top student on the national entrance exam, and one of her paintings still hung in the university's gallery.

found the painting and stood

Fairview University

her that, even near the end, her mother was

maybe if she could find it,

at her mother's work, lingering on the signature at the bottom-

the longing she'd been bottling up came crashing

rose up too, making her nose sting and her

mother

left to

of her eyes with her fingertips,

and rainy. The sky was already heavy with clouds, and she guessed it'd start raining soon, so she

the gate, rain began to fall in thin,

She hurried, lifting her bag

and Sylvie strolling toward her under an umbrella. Jarrod was holding it slightly tilted to keep

They saw her too.

brow seemed to furrow just a

he thought she was ruining his mood by bumping into

so of course

Elodie's ride arrived.

her gaze away, calm and composed, and ducked into the car, shielding herself from

the hotel, she

been robust; the slightest chill was enough to make

a nap. She had no idea how long she slept. When she woke, sweaty and groggy, she

She dialed his number.