Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Keeping up appearances was all that mattered, nobody wanted to stir the pot.

Caught in the middle, Murray Sherwood often played the role of Switzerland, avoiding confrontation at all costs. He neither initiated discussions nor inquired too deeply, adopting a see-no-evil, hear-no-evil

stance.

The thought of resolving the ongoing tension between his girlfriend and his mother was a bridge too far.

Roseanne Cole understood his position and never pressed the issue.

For instance, she never cornered him with questions like where they should spend Christmas Eve - with her or with his mother, Beverley. She spared him the dilemma.

Looking back, she realized all her concessions, patience, and understanding were merely self-consolation.

Men don't cherish; they take for granted and deem it their due.

Roseanne said, "Yeah, I missed my parents, so I bought a ticket home."

Her words were simple, but Leda Reynolds knew that mustering the courage to return home wasn't easy for her.

"How are your aunt and uncle? It's been ages since I last saw them. Say hi for me."

"They're good, actually asked about you over dinner."

Back in college, the Coles knew Leda was their daughter's best friend. During summer breaks, they'd often send Roseanne back with local goodies for her.

Leda now found herself craving Norris Cole's homemade beef stew.

"So, when are you heading back? Planning to stay long?"

Roseanne pondered for a moment: "Might be a while. It's been so long; I want to spend more time with them."

Leda nodded, "Makes sense. They must miss you a lot."

On the phone, Leda's eyes suddenly sparkled as she stumbled upon something on her iPad: "Hilarious, just saw something funny." Roseanne: "What is it?"

"Didn't you see?"

"No."

Leda then remembered she had blocked Murray a while ago.

"Cough! Gotta tell you-Millie just updated her status. Looks like Murray got her a Hermes Kelly bag. Total show-off move, right?"

Leda wasn't even sure when she

added Millie, but stumbling upon the

post felt like watching a drama unfold: "Talking about a Christmas gift, and there's a pic with their. hands, making sure everyone knows Murray spent Christmas Eve with her. But then, Cliff, bless his heart, either clueless or stirring the pot, made a comment that stood out among all those envious ones:

[Wasn't Murray just at Starlight? He made it home already?]

The comment section turned awkward real quick.

Leda couldn't help but smirk: "So

petty, a Hermes bag and she's alet

with Murray, you could havet

happy. Think about when you

Were

anything you wanted..."

If only Millie hadn't been so showy, but her pictures and chat logs were too obvious!

Yet, the real kicker was a post Murray made two minutes ago-

A photo of a hand holding a wine glass, with their master bedroom in the background, vaguely showing a photo frame on the nightstand.

It was a picture of him and Roseanne from their trip to the North Sea two years ago.

Caption: [Drunk, missing her.]

"Serves him right! Why doesn't he just drink himself to death?!" Leda was in full cant mode, but sensing silence on the other end, she quickly cleared her throat, "Ah, why dwell on such unlucky things during the holiday season."