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."

would show

headed up to

well-dressed and striking in appearance. Two of them, Elodie recognized immediately-they were special ops pilots who'd transferred from

too. As soon as Elodie entered, Lily stood up, shot a quick and critical look at Esmeralda clinging to Elodie's arm, then pursed her lips and looked

immediately checked to see how she was doing. Satisfied she was fine, he

Greetings were exchanged.

voice called out

I'm late. Traffic

voice carried through the room, Elodie felt Esmeralda freeze at her side, gripping her arm even

breath hitched, nerves written

joke or stir up some fun. Yet somehow, there was one person in the world

a surreptitious deep breath, forced her

was standing there, her smile

beside him was a tall, slender woman with

woman wasn't exactly striking, but she had an

who she was: Fleming's

didn't spot Esmeralda right away. Instead, he looked around the room. "This is my sister, Lucy. Hope nobody

wasn't strictly official, so