How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Esmeralda's birthday had arrived.

It was today, in fact, but she was swamped with work and would have to get through it before making any evening plans.

She nodded absently, her gaze flickering with a trace of hope, as if she was waiting for something.

Suddenly, Elodie seemed to remember and arched an eyebrow. "Ah, that's right— your fiancé's back in town. Got anything planned with him?"

Esmeralda's shoulders slumped as she shook her head, crestfallen. "He hasn't even called. I'm not sure he remembers."

Before Fleming went abroad, he always made time for her on her birthday.

Elodie ruffled Esmeralda's hair. "He'll remember. He's back now, and even if he forgets, you can always remind him. Just tell him you want to spend the day together."

Esmeralda's eyes lit up as if a cloud had lifted. "You're right! And it's Sunday, so he's got to be free."

Seeing her friend's smile, Elodie couldn't help but grin too.

"Is everyone here?" Elodie asked as they walked down the hall.

Esmeralda shook her head. "Not yet, but Alex is inside, chatting with a few of them already."

from the base would show up today-they'd be working together a lot going

headed up to the

were several men waiting there, all of them well-dressed and striking in appearance. Two of them, Elodie recognized immediately-they were

Lily stood up, shot a quick and critical look at Esmeralda

see how she was doing. Satisfied she was

Greetings were exchanged.

voice called out from

Traffic was a

moment that voice carried through the room, Elodie felt Esmeralda freeze

Esmeralda's breath hitched, nerves written all over

a joke or stir up some fun. Yet somehow, there was one person in the world who could unravel her

forced her most radiant smile,

saw who was standing there, her smile

the threshold, and beside him was a tall, slender woman with an

but she had an

immediately who she was:

Instead, he looked around the room. "This is my

wasn't strictly official, so there was no