Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Murray slammed on the gas and took off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.

Leda was fuming on the sidewalk, cursing at the top of her lungs. "What kind of jerk does that? A total scumbag! Absolute trash! He's driving me insane!"

Grabbing the young guy by the collar, who was as innocent as a puppy caught in the rain, she vented, "Listen here. Anne is never going back to him! Never!" Trying to play peacemaker, the young guy nodded frantically, "Yeah, yeah, don't get worked up."

But was that even possible? The confidence Murray exuded seemed unshakable.

Stealing a glance at Leda, the young guy wished Leda could trust men as unconditionally as her friend did. Stop right there! He wouldn't dare even dream of it.

...

Meanwhile, Murray answered a call in his car, his tone icy because of his bad mood. "What's up?"

"Hey, babe, I found this amazing place that serves the juiciest crab. Tomorrow's Saturday. Let's go check it out, shall we?" Millie's bubbly voice came through the phone. She knew Murray's love for seafood and was playing to his tastes.

They hadn't been in touch since the previous night, and her anxiety was getting the better of her, pushing her to make the call without a second thought.

their dates, and all she had to do was playfully refuse before

had changed recently. Murray's attempts to reach out had dwindled, his texts brief, sometimes left

say, like at that moment. "Saturday? I'm

works, too..." Millie's grip on her phone tightened,

busy. Let's leave it at that." With that,

her panic surge again. She thought, 'No, I can't give up yet,

...

the sun dipped low, Owen and Roseanne bid

it?" Madeleine said, a hint of sadness in her voice. "Why don't you stay for dinner before you

"Can't, I need to swing

sentiment. "We'll have plenty of other

be strangers,"

Roseanne responded,

her, "By the way, there are some papers and three books on the table for you, stuff you

paper intended for SCI submission before graduation, and her professors had kept everything for her. Touched,

now. Oh, and don't forget your