How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie didn't understand what Jarrod had just said, and for once, she didn't try to

hide how she felt. She'd always known that after the surgery, grief and pain would

hit her hard-but she hadn't expected it to come crashing down so violently,

impossible to dodge or ignore.

She locked eyes with Jarrod, noticing how hard he was trying to ease her burden,

to make things a little lighter for her.

"What person?" she asked, her voice raw. Was he talking about Sylvie-her

closest confidante?

Right now, nearly everyone she cared about was in Eldermere. A tiny circle, really.

She couldn't imagine who else could possibly matter this much.

Jarrod hesitated, taking in the deep hurt in her expression before speaking, slow

and deliberate: "It's a girl. As of today, she's been alive for six months."

Elodie's face tensed. "What do you mean?"

"She's... our child."

For a heartbeat after Jarrod's words, Elodie just sat there, numb, as if someone

had struck her squarely in the head. Her thoughts scattered, refusing to come

together.

It took her a long few seconds to find her voice, her words shaky and bewildered:

child? When did we ever-how could

her hand and led her over to a small,

in front of

procedure you had a

it, I flew in from overseas. It looked

doctor

embryo intact and transferred

eyes went

unable to believe what she was hearing. Was

possible now? Did such technology

read her doubts; his voice was

me like that. Medical science has reached a level that most

can't even imagine."

and gently pinched her still-gaunt

"I'm sorry for telling

realized her

ragged bursts,

from not having blinked

She forced

hoarse.

say

make me feel better."

nothing but

Jarrod held her gaze firm, grounding her. "Have

isn't public

"It's

highest echelons of the

world. The costs

astronomical-not many can afford

not even most

only

for a couple of

in their own