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."

senior looked

Carlisle looked equally puzzled.

inside the room, Hans said, "Those students

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

met? She said she wanted

Roseanne stood with the lunchbox

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

lunchbox at the nurses' station. "This

"Hey, you haven't left your

for the fresh air, but

flawless makeup approached her, her

and pencil skirt, her hair cascading over her shoulders. It

for maternity check-ups. Hertha breathed a sigh of relief for

managed a weak

your eyes so red? Have you

Roseanne remained silent.