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.

from the start. How did it

him into bed, Cliff hesitated to leave.

back at the family home? Can you

half an hour later with dark circles under her eyes and a scowl that could

had been anxiously waiting, lit up at her arrival. "Ah, Sadie, thank goodness

at the sight of the drunken heap on the bed.

Can you take care of

Cliff turned, puzzled. "Yeah?"

bin in

what about

everywhere. You think the floor cleans

apology and promised to

covered Murray with a blanket, tucking him in before muttering her way to the

floor upon her return, she sighed, resigned to her fate. She dragged him back to bed like hauling a sack of potatoes

IMS

stubbornly refused to open his mouth until Sadie, losing patience, pinched his cheeks, turning him into a compliant duckling. Finally,