How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie's fever kept coming back, and she never regained consciousness.

Everything she'd been through lately had pushed her to the breaking point, and in

the end, her body just gave out.

Jarrod stayed by her side all night.

By morning, he'd already called Rosemary and Emile, asking them to get to the

hospital as early as possible. He made sure Esmeralda and the others didn't get

left out, either. He knew they were Elodie's closest friends-they deserved to

know what was happening, and he didn't want them kept in the dark.

If he was being honest, part of him just wanted as many people there as possible,

hoping that maybe their presence could give Elodie some strength.

Elodie came to for only a brief moment before she was wheeled into surgery.

Jarrod forced himself upright and, using his wheelchair, made his way to the

doors of the operating room.

His grandmother arrived soon after. Seeing Jarrod in the wheelchair, she

approached, her eyes full of concern as she studied him for a long moment. "At

least you're stepping up," she said quietly. "Your mother told me you've made up

your mind?"

Jarrod nodded. "This is the best option we have."

She hesitated, almost as if she wanted to say more, but finally just sighed. "I used

to hope you two would give us a child. But now, with Elodie's health like this,

her getting better. As long as

of us have

been through enough in her life to know when to let go.

it do to add to their

hand gently. "You

when he

out a worried sigh, but didn't

arrived

signed the

If she wakes up, she can blame me for

decision for her."

filled with tears. To her, it just seemed like her daughter's

been nothing but suffering. With the risk this surgery held, she

help but be anxious.

arm around Rosemary and gave

he finished signing his name, Jarrod realized his palms were slick

was stretched taut,

panic gnawed at him.

himself as

hands wouldn't

scrubs and

over and

"We'll do everything

can," he promised.

to Elodie-he'd get her through

after a

and disappeared behind

swung shut with a finality that made everyone

so strung out

barely move;

together in silent prayer,

begged God

Alexander, noticing her

posture, started nervously digging