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?"

collecting his parcel, which happened to contain mushrooms, and asked her for some tips on

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,

Owen cough awkwardly, prompting her to quickly wave

her off, "No need to explain,

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

there to stir?

line

Back then, society was more conservative, and it took us two

off as they

Roseanne's cheeks were flushed.

know where to

the stairs in silence and disposed of their trash without a

"I"

"You-"

spoke at the same time, then paused and laughed at the

love, a real-life example

shared, "They're both retired professors from Twilight Peak Academy's astrophysics department. They

"Really?" Roseanne was surprised.

clear the couple was educated, she