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."

who had brought up the senior looked visibly downcast. "Carlisle, did I say something

Carlisle looked equally puzzled.

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

trembled uncontrollably, and tears began to well up in her eyes, eventually spilling over. "She was such a genius. She shouldn't have... Why didn't she value her

last time we met?

with the lunchbox in hand, her

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

couldn't muster the courage to enter, leaving the lunchbox at the nurses' station. "This is for Ms. Payne. Could you please give it

to her. "Hey, you haven't

ran out of the hospital building, gasping for

with flawless makeup approached her, her

and pencil skirt, her hair cascading over her shoulders.

Why aren't you at home? What brings you to the hospital?" Hertha glanced at the building. The general ward was not for maternity check-ups. Hertha breathed a sigh of relief for her mother. If Roseanne were pregnant,

managed a

it. "Why are your eyes so red? Have

Roseanne remained silent.