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?"

the elderly lady while collecting his parcel, which happened

Roseanne nodded.

the other cooks. It's fate that you're neighbors! You're so familiar with each other, might as well make

heard Owen cough awkwardly, prompting her to quickly wave

explain, as long as you're

"Look at you, always stirring the pot. You've got Owen and

to stir? Remember,

line

Back then, society was more conservative, and it took us two years to break through. Nowadays, society is much more

voices trailed off as

Roseanne's cheeks were flushed.

didn't know where to

silence

"I"

"You-"

then paused and laughed at

is truly in love, a real-life example of growing old together,

department. They never had children, just spent their lives supporting

"Really?" Roseanne was surprised.

it was clear the couple was educated, she hadn't