Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne was jerked awake by the persistent knocking at her door. She shot up, her heart racing, sure someone was at her doorstep.

"Who's there?" she called out, caution heavy in her voice.

With Owen burning the midnight oil at the lab, she was on her own. If a burglar was at her door, she had no one to back her up.

The knocking paused for a moment, but the visitor remained silent.

Seeing that Roseanne wasn't budging, they resumed their knocking.

"If you won't speak, I'm not opening up."

"...Anne." Murray's voice came through, laced with a weary chuckle.

She was as stubborn as ever.

"...What do you want?" At the sound of his voice, Roseanne couldn't help but frown.

"Let me in. We need to talk. I promise I won't do anything. If it makes you feel better, leave the door ajar..."

"There's nothing between us worth discussing." Roseanne cut him off, clearly unwilling to open the door.

Despite his repeated knocks and pleas, she ignored him completely.

seemed exceptionally patient today, persisting in his knocking even as Roseanne, fresh from her shower, picked up her phone in frustration. "Hello, officer? There's someone incessantly knocking on my door..." And so, Murray was eventually led away, half coaxed, half dragged by the friendly

Peace at last...

lay down to

next morning, she got up, prepared a hearty breakfast

for the

knocks, and partly to really push forward with her

had to finish this paper before the grad

two birds with one

appeared in front of her as she stepped out, darting out from

glared at her, his

sleepless night coupled

faint blue shadows under his once handsome features, giving him a wom,

at Roseanne was a mix of love, resentment, frustration, and

duty. Happy now?" His words sounded accusatory, yet his tone was surprisingly

to give the

no emotion: "First off, I wasn't playing a game; you truly were bothering me. Secondly, your 'education'

didn't you open the

"I never open my door

stirring Murray's temper. "Stranger? You don't know me, or is it I who don't know you?! What about the past six years?" "You said it yourself, that's the past. Since it has become the past, let's not let it influence