Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Madeleine admitted it. "Yeah, I'm getting old. I can only guide two,"

Hans mumbled, his lips curling in a moue of discontent. It was evident the third slot was for Madeleine, yet she would not admit it outright.

"Ms. Payne. Oh? Mr. Olson is here, too?" Carlisle strolled in with two younger students, setting down a bouquet of fresh sunflowers on the table. "We're just here to check on Ms. Payne."

Amidst the casual conversation, one of the students mentioned, "I heard a freshman this year is brilliant. Got straight into the combined Bachelor-Master-PhD track."

At Kingswell University's School of Life Sciences, it'd been almost a decade since anyone got into the direct PhD track from undergrad, and no more than three students had managed it.

"This freshman won gold at the International Mathematical Olympiad and the International Informatics Olympiad last year, securing her spot in our department."

"Two gold medals? That's pretty cool. But I remember a senior. She must have been one of Ms. Payne's students, who entered undergrad with four gold medals, one in math, physics, chemistry, and computer science each! What was her name? Rose or something like Anne?"

"Looks like it's about time!" Hans interjected, "You guys should head back to campus."

"Oh, alright then. We'll be off."

"Yeah."

the students had left the room, the one who had brought up the senior looked visibly downcast. "Carlisle, did I say something wrong? Ms. Payne and Mr. Olson

Carlisle looked equally puzzled.

room, Hans said, "Those students didn't mean any harm. Don't

eventually spilling over. "She was such a genius. She shouldn't have... Why

met? She said she wanted love. Hah, she wanted love? She broke

the lunchbox in

'I'm sorry... Ms. Payne...'

lunchbox at the nurses' station. "This is for

to her. "Hey, you haven't left

building, gasping for the fresh

makeup approached her, her heels clicking on the pavement, swinging a

pencil skirt, her hair

was not for maternity check-ups. Hertha breathed a sigh of relief for her mother. If

Roseanne managed a weak

eyes so red? Have you been

Roseanne remained silent.