Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Everything familiar was thick with irony.

Why? Why did he ever say those things?

Looking back, he felt like he was under some spell, acting on whim without realizing her pain and despair.

In just a year, Roseanne had moved on, embracing college life, while he was still stuck in this private room. Trapped and with no desire to leave.

Murray's grip on his glass tightened until his knuckles turned white, and then, unexpectedly, he chuckled. The resolve he had when breaking up was now equal in regret. Seeing this, Cliff sighed, unable to persuade him otherwise, he simply joined in.

"Here, Murray, I'll drink with you."

Soon enough, Murray was plastered.

Cliff drove him back to the mansion. Throughout the ride, Murray's eyes were shut tight, mumbling, "Anne...Anne...don't leave me..."

It was tough for Cliff to watch.

and Roseanne's relationship from the start. How

hesitated to leave. He decided to

Sadie, you back at the family home?

later with dark circles under her eyes

who had been anxiously waiting, lit up at

sight of the drunken heap on the

bit overboard. Can you take care of

Cliff turned, puzzled. "Yeah?"

bin

know, what

everywhere. You think

off-guard, mumbled an apology and promised

a blanket, tucking him in before muttering her way to the kitchen to make

She dragged him back to bed like hauling a sack of potatoes and then tried to feed him the

IMS

open his mouth until Sadie, losing patience, pinched his