How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie drifted somewhere between sleep and waking.

She felt dampness on the back of her hand, and the pain in her abdomen had faded to a dull ache. She recognized these sensations-someone must have given her a painkiller.

Turning her head, she met Jarrod's gaze. His eyes were rimmed red, betraying sleepless worry.

When he saw her awake, he opened his mouth to speak, but his voice caught, dry and hoarse. He swallowed hard before finally managing, "Are you feeling any better? Does it still hurt?"

Elodie shook her head, her eyes falling to where Jarrod's hand clasped hers. The moisture on her skin was clearly from his tears.

"I'm all right," she said, her voice carrying the familiar phrase she'd repeated so often it had become second nature.

The words made Jarrod tense, shoulders stiffening. He couldn't let himself dwell on how Elodie had survived those endless nights of pain on her own. She'd always been the strong one-even her grandmother and uncle had no idea. Elodie had never been the kind to complain.

She tried to withdraw her hand, but this time, Jarrod didn't let go. Instead, his grip tightened, as if he was afraid she might slip away.

It unsettled her. This wasn't the Jarrod she used to know.

"All those nights you went through alone... was it hard?" Jarrod gently brushed the tears from her hand, his voice rough with emotion.

Elodie thought for a moment. "At first, it was. But after a while, you just... get used to it. You accept things the way they are. No matter who knows or doesn't know, it won't change the outcome."

If anything, letting others in would only have made things messier-kept those who cared for her up at night, frantic with worry. She'd rather wait until the final treatment, spare them longer periods of heartache, and save herself the energy required to manage their emotions. She was already drained, running on empty.noveldrama

She wasn't someone who thought of every angle. But she was ruthlessly rational. She was an adult-her problems were her own to carry. There was no need to burden her friends.

"But you needed me, didn't you?"

Elodie's eyes flickered, but she answered him honestly, her tone even. "Yes, I did. But at the time, you were with someone else. Was I supposed to hope that you'd pity me, just because you found out I was sick?"

That's what she'd thought all last year. If Jarrod had moved on, why would she use her illness, or the fact that time was running out, to keep him by her side? That would have been pointless-and humiliating. If she made a scene and forced him to stay, would she really want his charity? She couldn't bring herself to do it.

Now, with time and perspective, she understood things differently. But the pain back then had been real. She wasn't omniscient; she couldn't know what was in his heart. Every time she thought he cared, he'd find a way to shatter her hopes he never shared anything with her never let her in. She was left to guess, and she always guessed wrong.

The only thing she could do was preserve a little dignity for herself.

Her words held no accusation-only the truth of how she'd felt. But they cut him deeply.

He understood now just how alone she'd been, how her instincts to protect herself were nothing but natural. He was the reason she'd built walls around her heart, stone by stone.

He drew a shaky breath, forcing down the ache in his chest. "I'm sorry."

But what else could he say? He'd never felt so powerless.

Elodie glanced at the IV in her other hand; the drip was nearly done.

"My illness... you don't have to feel guilty. It's not your fault. Not even my own family knows. I chose to keep it a secret. It has nothing to do with you."

She knew where Jarrod's pain came from, but she wasn't going to pile more guilt onto his shoulders.

Jarrod's heart clenched at her words. He stared at her, eyes shining with unshed tears, the hurt and regret plain on his face.

"And one more thing." Elodie's face, pale and drawn, was resolute as she looked at him. "The baby-I'll take responsibility. You know how much I love children. A life that's connected to me. I would never just tum my back on that. That's not who I am.” Cóntent