Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

As night fell, Murray had tackled a mountain of work when his phone buzzed. It was Cliff. "Murray, it's been ages, man. Fancy grabbing a beer?"

"Sure."

Murray left his study and changed out of his home clothes into something more casual. As he was heading downstairs, he saw Millie coming in through the front door, taking off her shoes in the foyer. Their eyes met, and both paused, stunned.

Murray asked, "What brings you here?"

Millie ignored his question. "Babe, you heading out?"

"Yeah."

Millie bit her lip awkwardly. "Did... Did I pick a bad time?"

No reply came.

"I, um, I came straight after class. I didn't skip or anything. It's just that I'm feeling sore down there after last night. I've been feeling off all day..."

"I was too embarrassed to hit up the pharmacy alone, worried about getting weird looks. I remembered we had some pain relief patches in the medicine cabinet here, so I came over." Her explanation was hesitant, fearful of being a bother.

"I'll head back to campus now!" Millie waited for his response, which never came. With a determined bite of her lip, she turned to leave.

But then, Murray called out to her. "Come here."

A smile flickered on her lips, quickly suppressed as she turned back. "Babe..."

aid kit, rifling through it before frowning. "None of these will

now? Pharmacy? But how can I even ask

flamed with

sighed, standing up. "Let's go. I'll take you to

fine. I don't want to

keys, Murray was firm. "It's no bother. Cliff just wanted to grab a beer. We

hesitated to ask, "Can I... Can I come with you

"Yeah."

as a beet

Murray apologized, "Sorry."

with

attitude only

had gotten complicated. He couldn't bear to think of the heartbreak she'd face

Murray opened

blinked, confused. "Where

you coming with

nodded obediently and climbed into the passenger

...

party room was buzzing,

Sting through the speakers.

Cliff

his

in his world,