Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

But now... It all seemed pointless.

Late affection was worth less than the dirt under one's shoes.

Roseanne's face remained expressionless as she listened to him, her hand firmly on the doorknob, a defensive stance.

"I'm sorry, but no," she said, pausing between each word. There would be no forgiveness, no reconciliation.

Murray's temper flared visibly. "Why? Just tell me why! You refused to get back together because of Millie, and now that I've left her, why are you still unwilling?!" He had given up so much, how much more did she want?

In contrast to his rage, Roseanne was much calmer: "Once upon a time, you were my everything. To me, you were all that mattered."

For him, she had given up her dreams of graduate school.

At the height of their love, he was her entire world, the one she wanted to spend her life with!

Murray's eyes brightened instantly, his voice urgent, almost frenetic. "Can't it be the same now? If you're willing, we can go back to how things were."

Roseanne looked down, shaking her head. "No one stays in the same place forever. Neither you nor I."

I realized that the world is full of interesting

master's, you'll still end up working. Isn't working all about earning money? Tell

you don't want money? Do you think I'll believe that? Or was it all about the money

reached a boiling point, and his

into absurdity, Roseanne no longer engaged, pushing

quick and urgent, catching Murray off guard and forcing him to step

you think graduate studies are easy? The academic courses, the lab work, you were indeed capable and outstanding back then. But years have passed, do you

finish, the door slammed shut with a

closure startled Murray, anger mixed with

...

April, as spring began to warm

branches, and

went to

her first meeting with the elderly lady since the

warmed day by day,

so busy

seeing Roseanne, she