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,

better.

the rest of us have nothing

life to know when to let go. Even

what good would it do to add

gently. "You

but when he said he'd do

out a worried sigh, but didn't say

Emile arrived

signed the surgery consent

me do it. If she wakes up, she

decision for her."

filled with tears. To her, it just seemed like her

suffering. With the risk

help but be anxious.

Rosemary and

signing his name, Jarrod

in his body was stretched taut,

panic gnawed at him.

of himself as someone

his hands wouldn't stop

scrubs

came over

"We'll do everything

can," he promised.

same vow to Elodie-he'd get her

and, after

and disappeared behind the

swung shut with a finality that made everyone

was so strung

barely move;

in silent

as she begged

Alexander, noticing

posture, started nervously digging