Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

The front row was filled with people around her parents' age.

"What's going on?"

Her boyfriend was equally confused, blurting out, "Why is it all older folks here?"

That comment touched a nerve-

"What's wrong with us older folks?! Got a problem?!"

Trying to clarify, her boyfriend stammered, "No, I mean... you're into fan culture at your age?"

"We're not chasing after pop stars, we're here for the literature! Got an issue with that?"

"Exactly!"

Her boyfriend was taken aback, exclaiming, "Madge's readership is this diverse?"

"Humph! We've been fans of Madge's novels for over a decade. Sure, we got married, had kids, and got swamped with work, barely active online, not into the whole ranking and streaming hustle like you youngsters, but we've always supported her by actually buying her books."

"Yeah, we've just been busy, not dead!"

across the venue, the

stage, delivering a brief introduction before Madge was welcomed with a round

"Ms. Madge is stunning!"

my God! She's so

scaring the pants off me with

her waist, Madge moved with a grace

thrilled to

with her sincerity - a killer move that never

erupted into

her heart swelling with pride as her mother

own smile mirroring" nov

the Q&A session came the moment everyone was eagerly awaiting - the book

the crowd

pushed along, trying to sidestep the

from

as she was about to fall, a pair of hands reached out, steadying her

exclaim, surprised to see the man in front of her. Owen coughed lightly,

of her waist - just as he remembered, his hands could easily encircle it. Owen

your

read her work