Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne smiled at the hairdresser, "Please, cut it short and straighten it."

'Even the prettiest doll is just a toy.' Roseanne decided, 'Let whoever wants to play with it, I'm done playing.'-

Stepping out of the hair salon, Roseanne felt a sense of liberation wash over her. Conveniently, there was a sales promotion at the Uniqlo store next door. She popped in and picked out a white tee and a pair of jeans, changing into them right there. They matched her sneakers perfectly.

As she wandered, she arrived outside the gates of Kingswell University, watching students cycle in and out under the setting sun. She paused, lost in thought.

"Carlisle! Over here!" A young man brushed past Roseanne. "What's everyone doing here?"

"We're planning to visit Ms. Payne, so..."

Carlisle frowned. "With this many people, the hospital won't allow it. Let's do this. Only two representatives from the bioinformatics department will come with me." Bioinformatics? Ms. Payne? Roseanne's gaze sharpened, and she quickly stepped forward. "Who did you say was sick?"

Carlisle stuttered, caught off guard by the neat and pretty girl before him. "Um, Ms. Payne."

Roseanne asked again, "Madeleine Payne?"

Carlisle nodded. "Yeah."

"Which hospital?"

"Serenity Health Hospital."

"Thanks."

out to Roseanne's back. "Uh... which department are you from? Are you also one

his question hanging as she

off the unease. Was Madeleine, the one who'd tap someone

opened her contacts, hesitating over Madeleine's before deciding against

so-called love, she had abandoned the opportunity for a direct Ph.D. program to be with Murray. She hadn't worked a single day after undergrad,

must have been

didn't go back?" Changing her shoes, Leda

twitched. "What, you want to kick me

this time. I remember the last time you and Murray broke up, it took him less than half an hour

changed the subject. "There's soup in the

sipping it appreciatively. "Murray's

to wash the dishes

again, "Hey,