Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

In the days following, Owen found the sensation becoming overwhelmingly stronger.

Typically, Owen would carve out time for a late-night run at least once a week to clear his head.

One evening, as Roseanne heard noises in the hallway and opened her door, she discovered Owen had already returned home.

But that wasn't all. Owen usually reserved a day or two each month for some downtime, yet Roseanne never saw his door crack open even once during these breaks.

And there was that one time she opened her door, sure she saw a sliver of movement from his apartment - as if he had peeked out at the sound of her footsteps, only to retreat quickly. Roseanne was baffled.

She racked her brain trying to figure out when she might have offended him.

But she couldn't come up with anything.

If only she could catch a glimpse of him, Roseanne wished she could just ask straight up - what on earth about her made him dodge her presence like a plague?

Meanwhile, Owen, sensing Roseanne's footsteps fading, timed his move to the window and saw her walking away. Only when her figure disappeared did he withdraw his complex gaze.

It wasn't that he wanted to avoid her.

But avoiding her was the only option he had.

The dream he had the first time could be dismissed as a fluke, an accident, a normal physiological reaction. But after seeing her outside the cafeteria that day, Owen had another dream that night.

It was more vivid, more thrilling, and more embarrassing than the first.

Waking up, every detail replayed in his mind, tormenting him.

In frustration and despair, he stripped the bed, throwing the sheets and duvet cover into the washing machine as if trying to cleanse himself of the memory.

He couldn't understand why he would dream such things.

How could he trash a woman's image like that? Yeah, trash.

himself so much, he couldn't even

How could he

him food a bunch of times. She'd go back and tell his dad, Ferdinand Reynolds, "the kid

---

the camaraderie within Roseanne's group

fare, they decided

afternoon plans on the way back, Mamie

and Scales

Scales asked, "What's up?"

then gave Roseanne a look

No chance.

had already spotted her and was

them, Roseanne noticed it was a bunch

bit thirsty.

Roseanne and Mamie, nodded in agreement, and the two of

Roseanne dropped all pretenses, "Murray, got a

He paused, "Anne..."

year ago.

pushing the flowers into her hands, "No,

was exhausted, repeating herself for the umpteenth time, "It's pointless. You have so many other options, why obsess

one I've ever

bitterly, recalling a particular birthday party for Cliff when Murray was

give Millie

he once said now felt

eyes reddened, "I was blind then, mistaking the counterfeit for the

apologies, but I still need to say this - you've

"Anne... please forgive me?"

you agreed to be

the flowers, firm and