How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Lucy's eyes sparkled as she carefully cradled the gift she'd picked out, her smile open and genuine. She waited, expectantly, for Esmeralda to take it.

But Lucy's words, cheerful and innocent as they were, cut straight through Esmeralda like an invisible blade, sharp and cold.

Esmeralda's gaze flickered past Lucy to Fleming, standing quietly behind her. So, he didn't remember at all... Not even her birthday. It had come to this-Lucy, not Fleming, had thought to bring a gift on his behalf.

Esmeralda hesitated for a long moment, her hands unmoving.

Lucy glanced around, a little confused, a little embarrassed now that a few people had started to look their way. She leaned in, voice soft and uncertain. "You... don't like it?"

Fleming noticed Lucy's discomfort. After all, she'd put real effort into picking out a gift, and now Esmeralda was just standing there, not taking it.

He turned to Esmeralda, his tone gentle but firm. "Lucy chose it with care. Go ahead, accept it. Consider it from both of us."

He didn't want Lucy to feel awkward in front of everyone.

Elodie, nearby, caught the subtle undertone in Fleming's words. She frowned ever

so slightly; it was clear to her that Fleming's concern was mostly for Lucy.

he'd forgotten her birthday. But he'd spoken, and Lucy was only trying

and took the gift, her

told you it'd be

awkwardly, the weight of so

plenty of people in the room. It wasn't as if Esmeralda was oblivious; everyone could tell Lucy had stepped in where Fleming hadn't. It was painfully obvious now-Fleming didn't really care. Having that realization in public only made her feel more

her away, guiding her toward a table, making it clear she didn't intend to leave

glancing back as she

was leading Lucy to their seats

seemed to realize something. She turned to Fleming. "Hey, maybe you should sit

did

at Esmeralda, who was watching him, then said, "Esmeralda has her friends. You just have

grip tightened around

just chuckled, finally catching on. "I'm not a kid anymore, you

just poured her a glass of

by Fleming before for asking about his relationship Lucy, and since then, she'd never dared to bring

seemed like Fleming's attention drifted

she was a

with Lucy's gentle kindness, Esmeralda