How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie drifted somewhere between sleep and waking.

She felt dampness on the back of her hand, and the pain in her abdomen had faded to a dull ache. She recognized these sensations-someone must have given her a painkiller.

Turning her head, she met Jarrod's gaze. His eyes were rimmed red, betraying sleepless worry.

When he saw her awake, he opened his mouth to speak, but his voice caught, dry and hoarse. He swallowed hard before finally managing, "Are you feeling any better? Does it still hurt?"

Elodie shook her head, her eyes falling to where Jarrod's hand clasped hers. The moisture on her skin was clearly from his tears.

"I'm all right," she said, her voice carrying the familiar phrase she'd repeated so often it had become second nature.

The words made Jarrod tense, shoulders stiffening. He couldn't let himself dwell on how Elodie had survived those endless nights of pain on her own. She'd always been the strong one-even her grandmother and uncle had no idea. Elodie had never been the kind to complain.

this time, Jarrod didn't let go. Instead, his grip tightened, as if

unsettled her. This wasn't the Jarrod she used

it hard?" Jarrod gently brushed the tears from her hand,

to it.

made things messier-kept those who cared for her up at night, frantic with worry. She'd rather wait until

someone who thought of every angle. But she was ruthlessly rational. She was an adult-her problems

needed me,

eyes flickered, but she answered him honestly, her tone even. "Yes, I did. But at the time, you were with someone else. Was I supposed to hope that you'd pity me,

she'd thought all last year. If Jarrod had moved on, why would she use her illness, or the fact that time was running out, to keep him by her side? That would have been pointless-and humiliating. If she made a scene and forced him to stay, would she really want

was in his heart. Every time she thought he cared,

only thing she could do was preserve a little dignity

held no accusation-only the truth of how she'd felt. But they

herself were nothing but natural. He was the reason she'd built walls