Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Everyone in the circle knew Roseanne Cole was head over heels for Murray Sherwood. She was so crazy about him, it was like she had no life outside of him, totally wrapped up in his world all the time. Every time they broke up, it took less than three days for Roseanne to come crawling back, begging for reconciliation. Those words would never escape hers in a world where "let's break up" seemed on everyone's lips.

The room fell into an eerie silence for five seconds when Murray walked in with his new flame.

Roseanne, in the middle of peeling an orange, stopped cold. "Why's it so quiet in here? Why's everyone staring at me?"

"Anne..." Her friends gave her worried glances.

But Murray acted as if nothing was amiss, wrapping his arm around his woman and sitting on the couch. "Happy birthday, Cliff."

He was so brazen and nonchalant.

Roseanne stood up. It was Cliff's birthday, and she didn't want to make a scene.

"Excuse me. I'm going to powder my nose." she said.

She closed the door behind her and could hear the conversation picking back up.

"Murray, Roseanne's here. Didn't I give you a heads-up? Why'd you bring her along?"

you've crossed the

a cigarette, a smile playing on his lips, looking every bit

shut. Having regained the composure in the restroom and touched up the makeup, Roseanne

was living a pathetic

her as she pushed the door open and returned to the room made her

cheers erupted

Murray is good

it!

Give

on the doorknob trembled. That was the man she had loved for six years, and

Someone murmured, gesturing

Everyone turned to look.

you're back? It's all in good fun. Don't take

over calmly. "Roseanne, since you're here today, let's lay

nodded. "Sure,

years, and to be honest, I'm

nails digging into her palms, yet she