Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

That same head sent blessings her way, and the girl's gentle, serene voice seemed to carry a hint of laughter.

In Owen Reynolds' mind, an image surfaced: her, holding her phone, a slight smile on her face as she wished him a Merry Christmas.

Fireworks exploded, illuminating her smiling profile.

It must have been beautiful.

On Christmas, Roseanne was allowed to sleep in until eleven.

Sunlight crept up the windowsill, its brightness seeping through the curtains. She opened her drowsy eyes to see the shadows of tree branches, cast like dancing claws on the fabric.

Is the sun out?!

Sitting up, she yawned, walked to the window, and with a swoosh, drew the curtains back.

Sure enough, daylight glittered on the snow-capped mountains in the distance, blindingly bright.

Norris and Madge were in the yard, reading books and basking in the sun.

Norris, ever so attentive, knew Roseanne had woken up the moment he heard the window open. As a teacher, he always had a strict sense of time and disapproved of Roseanne's habit of sleeping in.

your mother's doing, sleeping till this hour, meals all out of whack, do you even care

no regard for their health. Wait till you're older, then you'll

you stop nagging? She's graduated, not your student

father. There's breakfast on the table for you,

Roseanne smiled, "Got it."

sky, after breakfast, she joined the tea-drinking, sun-basking

this tea? It

cup; the tea had a light, fragrant aroma, not overpowering, with a subtle hint of

།

years back," Norris took

son

thought you didn't like

girls her age, Roseanne favored milkshakes and fruit teas over

chuckled, "People change, right? I didn't like it

drinking, so she tried to get him to

ended up falling in love with tea

Madge, sensing something, frowned

Norris a