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.

and danced in a mini whirlwind on the

the wind, ready to leave, when suddenly, she heard

it was

the Super Bowl party, that he had to drop by the school today to deliver some test papers

early. Don't you have tons to do

from a female teacher around

they lived in the same faculty housing

with Norris. While Norris took the honors classes,

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

Norris greeted with a smile. "Not too

daughter, Roseanne, she's not

when Helen continued, "It's just... she's changed ever since

to

Now, taking shortcuts like some misguided youngster, just goes to show how

says my

might have said too much in

expression? She hadn't made it