Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne hadn't experienced the rush of doing manual labor in forever.

Living with Murray for those years, she didn't have the maids waiting on hand and foot, but she steered clear of any heavy lifting. Even in the early days, when Murray's startup was getting off the ground when money was tight, they still had a cleaning lady come weekly for the house chores.

After finishing a can of paint, Roseanne stretched her aching back. Being pampered for years had made her soft. She went to the hallway, planning to bring in the rest of the paint.

But, in her haste, she knocked over the can. Though she acted quickly, a small spill still spread on her next-door neighbor's doorstep. She grabbed a mop instantly, but as she was halfway through cleaning, the previously shut door suddenly opened.

Their eyes met, and as she was about to apologize, she found herself face-to-face with a familiar person.

"You live here?"

"Owen?"

Both spoke at the same time.

Owen glanced at the mess at his feet, then back at her. "So, the new tenant is you?"

Roseanne hadn't expected such a coincidence. "As you can see, we're neighbors now."

Owen's gaze shifted subtly. He had chosen to live there because it was close to the lab and university, making it convenient for teaching students and conducting experiments.

But why Roseanne? The environment wasn't ideal for a young woman, not least because of the lack of an elevator, which wouldn't be a first choice for the younger crowd.

Roseanne thought he was upset about the spill in the hallway. "Sorry about the mess with the paint. I'll have it cleaned up in no time."

She sped up her cleaning and finished quickly. She pointed to the trash by Owen's side as she headed downstairs. "I'm heading down. Let me take that out for you." Owen didn't refuse. In return, he fetched a folding ladder from his apartment. "This might make painting your walls a bit easier."

Roseanne smiled. "Thanks."

With the ladder, painting became much more efficient. In just one morning, Roseanne had refreshed all the peeling paint in her apartment. It looked clean and orderly in no time. Later, she picked a new sofa and dining set, giving the room a light makeover, finally bringing her project to a close. When she finished, it was nearly dark.

Roseanne rubbed her shoulders, looking around. The warm glow of the lamps transformed the once-dingy space, making it feel brand new compared to when she first arrived.

Her little nest boasted her favorite light-colored cotton duvet cover on the bed, which smelled faintly of laundry detergent after a day in the sun.

The green plants she bought in the afternoon were lined up by the window, radiating vitality.

And her checkerboard-patterned bean bag chair, filled with perfectly fluffy cushions, was ideal for reading and resting comfortably.

Though the space was small, it had everything she needed.

"Is this your new place? It looks pretty good." Leda remarked over their video chat. "Your DIY skills are as impressive as ever. You haven't lost your touch since you single-handedly redecorated our dorm room back in the day."Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Roseanne chuckled. "It's nothing, just making the place feel like home."

"Anne, you're stronger than I thought, finding a new direction so quickly." Leda had her suspicions when she heard the new address but didn't press on it. "I'm happy you could start over."

After hanging up, Roseanne suddenly felt a wave of sadness wash over her.