Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne realized too late that she had been living in a bubble, but thankfully, there was still time to turn things around.

It was 6 pm. After a hectic day, she hadn't had a chance to eat anything.

She had some bread, fresh veggies in the fridge, so she made some sandwiches and cream of mushroom soup.

As she returned the ladder she had borrowed, she thought it over and decided to pack up some soup and the sandwich.

Owen was into revising the experimental data for his paper. Hearing a knock, he stepped away from his study to open the door.

"Thanks for lending me the ladder, and I made some dinner. If you don't mind, give it a try?" Under the porch light, Roseanne's eyes sparkled with sincerity.

Owen was momentarily stunned but then reached out to take the food, muttering a thanks.

He returned to his room and resumed the data adjustments, comparing them against previous experimental results. When everything was in order, it was already eight o'clock.

His stomach was growling. He automatically reached for his phone to order takeout but noticed the bag under the desk lamp. He opened it and found the contents still warm. The sandwich and soup beckoned.

After taking a bite of the sandwich, he paused in surprise. The bacon was perfectly crispy, complementing the freshness of the veggies, with a fried egg in the middle adding just the sweetness and moisture. It was a revelation for his taste buds.

After finishing the sandwich, he tried the soup, finding its simple, smooth texture surprisingly satisfying. It warmed him up from the inside, more so than most soup he had tried. Owen found himself smiling, a rare sign of contentment.

Not bad at all. Owen finished the soup and sandwich quickly.

...

At ten o'clock, after a nighttime run, Owen bumped into Roseanne on his way back.

She wore casual sportswear, her hair in a bun, standing out among the crowd.

"Out for a walk?"

"You're running at night?"

They spoke at the same time.

Roseanne nodded. "Yeah, just out for a bit, picking up a parcel."

He slowed his pace to match hers, catching his breath as they walked side by side. "Thanks for dinner. It was great."

Roseanne replied, "You've helped me twice. I should be the one thanking you."

They passed by a children's playground. Its lively noise was distinct against the evening calm.

Roseanne smiled. "It's pretty lively around here."

In Murray's mansion, it was always eerily quiet.

Owen followed her gaze, realizing he hadn't paid much attention to these details despite living there for over two months.

Remembering a message that he had received earlier, he casually mentioned, "I checked with my junior colleague. Ms. Payne has been recuperating at home. I plan to visit her tomorrow at ten in the morning. Would that work for you?"

"Tomorrow at ten?" That was so soon. She suddenly felt nervous when she thought about meeting her professor after six years, her heart fluttering with unease.

Owen turned to her. "Is there a problem?"

"No, not at all."

Owen glanced at her, sensing her mood shift, but chose not to probe further. He valued privacy.

They said their goodbyes at their respective doors, retreating into their homes.

Roseanne took a distracted shower and lay in bed, trying to find sleep. A soft rain began to fall through the night, and she tossed and turned, hardly catching a wink of sleep. Rising early, she had breakfast and waited for Owen.

At ten, the knock came right on time. Roseanne opened the door promptly, ready to step out.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Owen paused momentarily before saying, "Let's go."