Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

It was the middle of winter break, and most students were off enjoying their holidays, leaving the campus looking like a ghost town.

The security guard spotted her standing at the gate, sizing her up with a quick glance. "Must be college break, here to visit your teachers, huh?"

Despite it being the holidays, a buzz of activity remained as seniors were stuck in prep classes for their final exams.

Before Roseanne could utter a word, the guard, with his hands clasped behind his back, waved her in, clearing his throat softly, "Go on in, but keep it down. Don't disturb the seniors in session." Roseanne thought to herself, "Silence is golden," indeed.

She wasn't there to see any teachers, so she steered clear of the academic buildings.

Instead, she wandered around the sports field a couple of times before deciding to leave. On her way out, she passed by the school's trophy case.

And there it was, her own photograph.

Beneath it, a small inscription read:

"Roseanne: Class of 20xx, Valedictorian in Science, accepted into the Biology program at Kingswell University."

The wind was picking up, causing her to avert her face slightly.

whirlwind on the ground. What started as a

ready to leave,

it was indeed

recalled him mentioning just the previous night, during the Super Bowl party, that he had to drop by the school today to deliver some test papers to the seniors. And

Don't you have tons to do at home

came from a female teacher around

lived in the same

Norris. While Norris

been her student, but her daughter, Teresa, was in the same

smile. "Not too busy at home,

she's not coming back for the

barely at the edge of Norris tips when Helen continued, "It's just... she's changed ever since going off to Lumina City for college. Abandoning her studies, and now, it seems, her

to interject,

shame, really. She was such a bright student. Now, taking shortcuts like some misguided youngster, just goes

faded slightly. "Who says my Roseanne is

might have said too much in front

expression? She hadn't