How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie had just arrived at the airport. After checking her luggage, she finally replied, "Around four thirty."

There was a brief silence on the other end. "Got it. Wait for me when you land. I'll drive you back into the city."

She could only assume it was her grandmother who'd nudged him into making this call.

Still, after what happened last night, she hesitated.

Jarrod seemed to pick up on it. His tone was almost amused, "Grandma asked me to bring you home."

He was using her grandmother as a shield. Elodie frowned, her brow tightening. "...When are you planning to tell her?"

"Jarrod, they're starting to board." Sylvie's voice suddenly broke in from his side of the call.

Then-beep, beep, beep.

He'd hung up.

She wasn't even sure he'd heard what she said.

And as for what happened last night, it was as if it hadn't even registered with him.

If she'd heard right just now... the boarding announcement on his end sounded exactly like hers.

Were they on the same flight?

Elodie almost laughed.

How was he supposed to give her a ride home when he was with Sylvie?

She decided not to waste any more thought on it.

The flight from Fairview Crossing to Eldermere took about two hours. After landing, Elodie collected her suitcase.

She remembered Jarrod's words about giving her a lift back to the city. Clearly, her grandmother must have given him strict instructions.

Elodie found a seat and tried calling Jarrod.

No answer.

She figured he'd get back to her once he'd sorted out whatever he was doing.

She didn't dwell on it. Instead, she pulled out her laptop and got to work, determined not to waste time just sitting around.

Time slipped by in the cramped waiting area. Eventually, her neck stiff and sore, she checked her watch.

Over forty minutes had passed.

Still no word from Jarrod.

Elodie wasn't surprised, nor was she in the mood to keep waiting. She closed her laptop and headed for the main exit.

Just as she arrived at the taxi stand, her phone buzzed. Esmeralda's name flashed on the screen.

"My luck is just rotten today!" Esmeralda grumbled, her voice raspy. "Came to the hospital for a saline IV-tonsillitis, can you believe it?—and who do I run into but Jarrod and Sylvie!"

Elodie paused, glancing up at the gray, wintry sky.

A chill crept through her coat.

She looked away, pulling her collar tighter before climbing into a cab.

Well. That explained everything.

Jarrod had already left with Sylvie. He hadn't even bothered to let her know, or answer her call. She'd been left behind and forgotten.

What was the point of offering her a ride if he was never going to follow through?

She shut her eyes for a moment and asked gently, "How are you feeling? Any better?"

If Jarrod was at the hospital with Sylvie, it could only mean one thing-Sylvie must have had some sort of crisis, one that made Jarrod drop everything and forget about Elodie entirely.

Esmeralda coughed, muttering, "I could hardly talk, but seeing those two? I was so mad I nearly recovered on the spot."

"Oh, by the way-Alex said you'd be back around this time. Did you already get home?"

"Just got in a cab," Elodie replied quietly.

Esmeralda sounded confused. "Didn't you land at four thirty? It's past five thirty now, and you're only just leaving?"

Elodie hesitated, a faint, bitter smile flickering over her lips. "I got held up. I'll come see you in a bit."

"No, no, don't. The hospital's full of people coughing and running fevers. Don't get yourself sick too. Just go home and rest."

Elodie didn't argue.

When she finally got home, a message from the hospital was waiting.

[Ms. Thorne, you can begin your first round of radiation next week.]noveldrama

She replied, then went straight to bed.

The last two days traveling had drained her completely; exhaustion crashed over her like a wave.

Feeling unwell, Elodie called in sick and spent the whole day at home.

But she didn't idle. Instead, she carefully mapped out plans for the third anniversary of her mother's passing.

Her grandmother placed special importance on the third year. In her mind, it was a definitive farewell, something the older generation believed carried great significance.

There were still two weeks to go. Elodie had time to prepare.