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,

Peace at last...

lay down

hearty breakfast of pancakes and

there for the next couple of days, avoiding

Murray's potential knocks, and partly to

paper before the grad school semester

two birds

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

glared at her, his

night coupled with

under his once

was a mix of love, resentment, frustration, and

whole night getting a lecture on civic duty. Happy now?" His words sounded accusatory, yet his tone

give the illusion he was

playing a game; you truly were bothering me. Secondly, your 'education' was because of your disturbance in the middle of the

didn't you

"I never open

words hit a nerve, stirring Murray's temper. "Stranger? You don't know me, or is it I who don't know you?! What about