How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Esmeralda's outburst came out of nowhere.

Elodie barely had time to react.

Jarrod staggered back two steps under the force, but his core remained steady— he didn't even sway much.

His dark eyes flicked over Esmeralda. If he felt anything, he didn't show it.

Elodie understood; a man like Jarrod never bothered to argue with women about such things.

But Esmeralda's emotions had long since slipped out of her control. Elodie's illness had already pushed her to the edge; all of her anger now found one target -the man in front of her. "Why is it that someone like you gets to be just fine? What gives you the right? You cheat, you're cold and cruel, and you left Elodie to carry all that pain alone—are you even human?"

Esmeralda was beyond furious.

She couldn't hold back anymore.

Nor did she care that the person she was shouting at was Jarrod.

All she felt was heartache and outrage for Elodie.

This anger had been waiting to be unleashed.

friend, and you're standing up for her. That makes sense. But I've never seen you this angry before. What happened

froze, words caught

anything you've done that's innocent? Jarrod, without you, Elodie's

might, in a fit of anger,

back,

heard her words; his long

the same thing—if Elodie would

for a few seconds, then looked directly at Elodie. "All that time we were together, if there was

felt her throat

love

in the wind, and suddenly, it's impossible to speak your heart. Because it

Esmeralda's arm and punching in the code, not once looking back at the

though she knew Jarrod was probably waiting for her to

enough of her life waiting around for

at the door as it

lowered his eyes, emptiness

much. She didn't tolerate any

She was finally moving on, growing stronger. How could

inside, Esmeralda's face was still twisted with anger.

lives across the hall," Elodie replied, setting down her bag. She sounded far