Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

The trio stepped out of the restaurant into the crisp evening air.

"Man, you're like a celeb, Owen. Had everyone huddling around you like you're the lead singer of a band or something." "Celeb?"

"Yeah, you know, like a pop idol."

Owen chuckled, shaking his head. "It's all about the perks, isn't it? No idol business there."

Leda sniffed the air subtly. "Have you been drinking? You didn't drive, did you?"

"Just a bit. No, I didn't drive."

"Perfect, hop in. I'll drop you and Anne off."

Leda's car couldn't quite make it down the narrow lane, so Roseanne and Owen decided to walk the rest of the way.

Under a sky scattered with stars, a gentle breeze carried the occasional meow from a distant alley cat.

Owen stumbled over a discarded fast food wrapper, his balance off from the drinks.

"You okay?"

"Sorry, ended up having a couple more than I should have."

of alcohol reach her, Owen consciously maintained

sincere, making Roseanne

drunk, never once thinking it something

her then, how different people

like Murray, Cliff, or York; swimming in a sea of bright lights and cocktails, living life in a blur of work

like Norris, gentle and steady, the embodiment of an ordinary

then there was

yet humble and

a revelation to her that excellence didn't equate to indulgence, and success didn't have to

chose to be more disciplined

to network that much?" Roseanne

currency. But how do we exchange these?

'networking,' then no profession is exempt. It's just a matter of degree." "Consider holidays, when even the youngest

see it

maybe it doesn't feel so much like an obligation. It could be over tea, fishing, hiking, camping...

first definition,

new perspective for Roseanne, sparking her

does today's dinner and drinks count as networking for you?" Owen smiled

"How so?"

a few acquaintances hoping for favors. Sharing

because I can't refuse those