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 fanbase indeed spanned

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

"Ms. Madge is stunning!"

God! She's

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

the day before, with a white chiffon scarf tied around her waist, Madge moved

and I'm thrilled to be here with you all

the audience with

venue erupted into thunderous

among the crowd, her heart swelling with pride as her

own smile mirroring" nov

came the moment everyone was eagerly

the crowd

pushed along, trying to sidestep the

someone shoved her from behind, sending

was about to fall, a pair of

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

could easily encircle

your mother's

read her