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!"

her gaze across

enough, the host took the stage, delivering a brief introduction before Madge was welcomed with a round

"Ms. Madge is stunning!"

God! She's so

person scaring the pants off me with those novels would be such a knockout! What a

scarf tied around her waist, Madge

I'm thrilled to be

captivated the audience with her sincerity - a

erupted into thunderous

heart swelling with pride as her mother shone brightly on

own smile mirroring" nov

everyone was eagerly awaiting - the

crowd

pushed along, trying to sidestep the throng

from behind, sending her

she was about to fall, a pair of hands

exclaim, surprised to see the man

as he remembered, his hands could easily encircle it. Owen picked up a

your

read her work