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,

matters more than her getting better. As long as you don't regret

us

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

would it do to add to

her hand gently. "You know me,

he said he'd do something, he

a worried

Emile arrived with

Rosemary could have signed the surgery consent form herself,

me do it. If she wakes up, she can blame me for

decision for her."

her, it just seemed

With the risk this surgery

help but be anxious.

put his arm around Rosemary and gave Jarrod a steady look.

Jarrod realized his

was stretched taut, and a rare, creeping

panic gnawed at him.

himself as someone easily

his hands

scrubs and prepped

came over and

"We'll do

can," he promised.

to Elodie-he'd

and, after a moment, nodded. "Thank

disappeared behind

a

was so strung out

move; her hands

together in silent prayer,

she begged

Alexander, noticing her

posture, started nervously digging