How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Even Elodie had to admit the whole thing felt rushed.

Her engagement ring had fetched a small fortune at auction, yet his own ring-the one he'd wear for her had been thrown together so casually?

She couldn't say why, but suddenly, Elodie found herself wondering about

Jarrod's state of mind back then.

He'd done so much for her behind the scenes, pouring his heart into it.

But Jarrod was never the type to parade his devotion. When he cared for someone, he didn't count the cost or expect anything in return.

Looking back, it seemed everything between them had been carefully, almost painstakingly orchestrated by him.

She even questioned-if not for all the things Jarrod quietly did would their bond have been so deep?

"You really know how to keep things bottled up," Elodie said quietly, stepping closer. She looked up at his refined features, gaze intent and searching.

Jarrod met her eyes, unwavering. "So should I be looking for some credit? Is it too late for that?"

Elodie's lips quirked in a faint smile, but she didn't answer. Instead, she stepped forward again, and before Jarrod even realized what was happening-she wrapped her arms around his waist, not too tight or loose.

With her eyes closed, Elodie rested her cheek against his chest.

In this moment, none of it

okay? When you're well, let's go

would be a fresh

life for

the past weeks, she'd come to realize so many things. There was no point blowing up the small stuff or clinging

about the present-and whatever came

anymore: Jarrod had broken through her

that feeling had just been buried, hidden

care, but that was never the truth. At the time, she'd just reached her limit, forced herself to move

moving forward, step by step, as if to show her he'd always

his shirt, her arms

he

"Elodie?"

big decisions or sudden changes Her voice was soft, almost

goes, together."

tremble and swell, filling him with a wild, dizzy

slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close,

had loved each other, but somehow, through all those years, they'd never truly loved each other

how precious

was still sorting through her feelings,

had shaped her, made her guarded and stubborn, but that