Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"No," Millie said, shaking her head. Then, blushing, she tiptoed closer and said, "I want to spend a little more time with you." Before she could get any closer, Murray took the lead. With one arm, he wrapped her waist and planted a fierce kiss on her.

Whoa! The crowd around them went wild again.

"Dude, get a room!"

"Man, that's some crazy love!"

Roseanne watched the scene unfold, her fingers turning white as she gripped her book tightly. So, hearts did break. Yet her face remained eerily calm, almost numb. She thought, 'You get used to it.'

If quitting smoking had withdrawal symptoms, what was a six-year relationship? Without lingering any longer, Roseanne turned to leave. She had books to get back to.

In the crowd, Murray felt something amiss and glanced around. A familiar silhouette flashed through his vision.

But then, Millie's soft hand slipped into his, their fingers intertwining affectionately.

Millie asked softly, "What are you looking at?"

Murray turned his gaze back to her. "Nothing."

After escorting Millie to her dorm, Murray prepared to leave.

But Millie held onto his hand, her eyes brimming with adoration. "It's still early. Can't you stay a bit longer?" Murray patted her head and said, "Be good. I'll pick you up this weekend."

Under the streetlight, his features were cast in shadow, making his sharp features even more pronounced. Millie's eyes shimmered with innocence and allure. "Murray, can I go home with you tonight?"

The implication of her words would be obvious to any adult.

Murray paused, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions. "You're still young. Let's wait a bit longer."

Millie was stunned but felt a secret thrill. His reluctance showed he cherished her, not just for a fleeting moment of pleasure but for something lasting.

"Okay, I've got things to do. I'm off." Murray glanced at his watch.

Millie nodded sweetly. "Okay, try to get some rest. I'll bring you some oatmeal tomorrow."

He didn't respond, lost in thought for a moment.

...

Back in her room, Roseanne's typing slowed as the image of their kiss replayed in her mind. She pressed her lips together. She headed to the bathroom and doused her face with cold water three times before her mind cleared. The past, once discarded, didn't deserve her attention.

Her main focus was on her exams. Time was running short. Returning to her desk, Roseanne opened two books given to her by Madeleine. One was a textbook on bioinformatics, the other filled with notes and annotations by Madeleine.

There was also a flash drive containing a thesis she had abandoned during her undergrad.

Initially meant for her postgraduate studies, she had spent countless hours in the lab, neglecting sleep and food to gather and analyze data. The pursuit of perfection in her research was relentless.

Even though she eventually gave up on pursuing further education to look after Murray, Roseanne never totally abandoned her thesis.

Over the years, she did two things. One, she played the free housekeeper for Murray. And two, she refined her thesis.

What Madeleine had given her was the work from her undergrad. Roseanne pulled the latter half from her computer, merging it with the first. Together, they formed a complete thesis. At that moment, it felt like the confusing first half of her life and the suddenly clear second half had met, creating a whole new her.