Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

That same head sent blessings her way, and the girl's gentle, serene voice seemed to carry a hint of laughter.

In Owen Reynolds' mind, an image surfaced: her, holding her phone, a slight smile on her face as she wished him a Merry Christmas.

Fireworks exploded, illuminating her smiling profile.

It must have been beautiful.

On Christmas, Roseanne was allowed to sleep in until eleven.

Sunlight crept up the windowsill, its brightness seeping through the curtains. She opened her drowsy eyes to see the shadows of tree branches, cast like dancing claws on the fabric.

Is the sun out?!

Sitting up, she yawned, walked to the window, and with a swoosh, drew the curtains back.

Sure enough, daylight glittered on the snow-capped mountains in the distance, blindingly bright.

Norris and Madge were in the yard, reading books and basking in the sun.

Norris, ever so attentive, knew Roseanne had woken up the moment he heard the window open. As a teacher, he always had a strict sense of time and disapproved of Roseanne's habit of sleeping in.

He lifted his tea cup, took a sip, and said, "It's all your mother's doing, sleeping till this hour, meals all out of whack, do you even care about your stomach anymore?"

"Young people these days, no regard for their health. Wait till you're older, then you'll understand..."

Madge stuffed a slice of orange into his mouth, "Will you stop nagging? She's graduated, not your student anymore. It's the first day of the year, let her sleep in, will you?"

Then, turning to Roseanne by the window, "Don't mind your old-fashioned father. There's breakfast on the table for you, just warm it up."

Roseanne smiled, "Got it."

With the sun high in the sky, after breakfast, she joined the tea-drinking, sun-basking session.

"Dad, what's this tea? It smells amazing."

Roseanne sniffed the tea cup; the tea had a light, fragrant aroma, not overpowering, with a subtle hint of date reminiscent of fine pastries, rich and unique in flavor.

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"This is some old white tea Halley Cole left us a few years back," Norris took a sip, smacking his lips, "Indeed, it's quite nice."

Halley Cole, the only son from Maddox's family, Roseanne's cousin.

"I thought you didn't like tea?"

Like many girls her age, Roseanne favored milkshakes and fruit teas over the slightly bitter, acquired taste of pure tea.

She chuckled, "People change, right? I didn't like it before, but suddenly, I do now."

A couple of years ago, Murray was always drinking, so she tried to get him to switch from alcohol to tea.

Unfortunately, Murray couldn't quit drinking, but she ended up falling in love with tea herself.

Madge, sensing something, frowned

and gave Norris a look before

changing the subject, "You have the nerve to talk, you've drunk all the tea in the house. Did you forget the doctor's advice? Drink less tea, more water."

Norris touched his nose, silent.

Roseanne didn't get to enjoy her schadenfreude for long before Madge turned to scold her, "And you, young lady, always cooped up at home how is that proper? With the weather this nice, go out, don't just sit around and mold-"

Just like that, Mrs. Madge pushed Roseanne out the door.Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.

Minutes later, she stood in the crisscrossing alleys, suddenly unsure of where to go.

Not wanting to run into any neighbors, she thought for a few seconds and chose a less populated, quiet path.

Aimlessly wandering, letting her feet decide her path.

Yet, unwittingly, she found herself at Horizon Future Middle School-where Norris taught, and where she had spent three years of high school.