Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne slipped into her puffer jacket, grabbing the trash on her way out the door.

Owen Reynolds emerged from his apartment with two hefty bags as well.

"Professor, how long has it been since you last took out the trash?"

Owen Reynolds hesitated, "...half a month?"

Roseanne couldn't help but think, So this is the real you, Professor.

Luckily, it was mostly packaging and plastic bags, nothing perishable like leftovers or fruit peels.

"Let's go."

As they made their way downstairs, they bumped into the elderly couple from their building, hand in hand, having just disposed of their own trash.

"Owen and Roseanne heading out to dump the trash as well?"

"Yeah," Owen nodded in response.

The elderly lady then turned to Roseanne with a gleeful smile, "What delightful dish did you cook today, Roseanne? We could smell something delicious all the way downstairs!" Roseanne replied, "Mushroom stew."

"Ah! That must be the mushrooms Owen received yesterday?"

parcel, which happened to contain mushrooms,

Roseanne nodded.

team, one provides the ingredients, and the other cooks. It's fate that you're neighbors! You're so familiar with each other, might as well make it official!" The elderly are known for their

Owen cough awkwardly, prompting her to quickly wave her hands in denial, "No, no, you've got it

need to explain, as long as you're happy.

stirring the pot. You've

to stir?

line

we lived on different floors too Back then, society was more conservative, and it took us two years to

off as they

Roseanne's cheeks were flushed.

didn't know

descended the rest of the stairs in silence and disposed of their

"I"

"You-"

spoke at the same time, then paused

"That couple is truly in love, a real-life example of growing old

Academy's astrophysics department. They never had children, just spent their lives

"Really?" Roseanne was surprised.

couple was educated, she