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..."

rifling through it before frowning. "None

Pharmacy? But

cheeks flamed with

up. "Let's go. I'll take you

sobbed. "It's fine. I don't

"It's no bother. Cliff just wanted to grab a beer.

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

"Yeah."

as a beet when they left

Murray apologized, "Sorry."

long as it's with you, I'm happy." Her eyes sparkled with an innocent

attitude

complicated. He couldn't bear to think of the heartbreak

Murray opened the

Millie blinked, confused. "Where

with me to

obediently and climbed into the passenger

...

was buzzing, heavy

Sting through the speakers.

Cliff

his

his world, swirling