Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

In the wee hours, a downpour began.

Murray drove back to the mansion, parked his car, but couldn't bring himself to get out.

Staring at the house that was no longer a "home" without Roseanne, he felt an emptiness inside. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

In the confined space, smoke swirled, unable to dissipate.

The crimson tip of the cigarette glowed between his fingers, blurring his features with its ascent.

Murray seemed to sink into the darkness, as if blending with the night itself.

The duration of a single cigarette, neither long nor short.

His gaze, previously unfocused, sharpened as the cigarette burned down-

Giving up on Roseanne was out of the question!

Having had and lost her did not mean she couldn't be won back.

If he could just win her back, maybe everything could go back to the way it was before.

Murray opened the car door, discarded the cigarette butt, and headed toward the mansion.

Millie stood at the door, her smile beaming.

Murray glanced at his watch. 1 AM, huh...

"Murray, I..."

Millie started to speak but didn't get to finish before he walked past her, heading inside.

was as if she was invisible, just part of

Millie's smile froze.

the smile back on her face: "Murray, I cooked dinner tonight. I called you, but you didn't answer. I couldn't send messages either;

and turned to

meant, could you unblock me? I was worried not being able to

too uninterested

to the dining table and started speaking: "I didn't know when you'd be back, so I just waited... I must have reheated these dishes four or five

meat omelette, sautéed parsley,

"What's so funny, Murray?"

job.

The sauerkraut and verme

allergic to shrimp, disliked minced meat

but the large slices of ginger floating on top were an instant

belongs to en.kikistot

what he

urge to smash the

"Sadie!"

No response.

"Lara-"

"... Yes, Ms. Millie?"

ignore her like Sadie could; after all,

"Clean up

"And these dishes...?"

"Throw them out."

"Alright."

master bedroom, Murray lay on the bed, thoughts

dinner inadvertently leading hil

back to Roseanne.