Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne had always wondered if Owen Reynolds wore cologne.

It was a question too awkward to ask, so she shelved it for the time being.

With a sheepish grin, Roseanne said, "Thanks, Professor, I forgot my scarf on my way out..."

"Well, she didn't exactly forget.

It was more like laziness.

She figured since she was just stepping out to toss the trash and come right back, the short walk wouldn't require bundling up.

Could Owen Reynolds really not see through her little scheme?

But, opting to let it slide without comment, he quietly offered her his own scarf.

"You were asking why Professor Albina and Patten decided against having kids. It's not that they didn't want to; it's because Professor Albina had health issues that made it impossible," he explained.

Back in those days, a woman's inability to bear children was almost a death sentence.

Patten's family couldn't accept it, pushing the two towards divorce.

Feeling guilty, Professor Albina didn't want to cling on and thus initiated the separation, willing to be the villain in the narrative.

But Patten wouldn't have it.

"I heard Patten went as far as to publicly disown his family in the papers to win his wife back. For twenty years, there was no communication until his family gradually came to terms with the situation, and they started reaching out again." "But things were never the same."

Professor Albina was an orphan to begin with.

her, Patten turned himself into one as

they only had each other

a mix of wonder and melancholy, "Back in those days, life was so different... slower cars, longer letters,

gazed into

He was looking at

you are the view

exhaled, her breath forming a misty cloud, like

if it'll snow this

counted since the snowflakes that did fall melted

busy being mad at

making the most of

digestion, Owen Reynolds noticed Roseanne starting to blow on her hands for warmth.

"Ah-okay!"

moonlight, amidst the chilly wind, they

...

could fully wake,

"Roseanne-Roseanne"

Owen Reynolds?

some emergency, and

"Professor?! What's wrong?!"

a moment, she even entertained the thought of

might want to get dressed properly, it's snowing

she was still in her

in long sleeves and pants, she

But-

"Snowing?! Really?!"