Knowing the dramatic change in temperature from her previous destination, Roseanne pulled out her long down jacket before the nended, wrapping herself up.


    Yet, it was a miscalction. A freezing rain had fallen a few days ago, leaving icicles hanging from trees and telephone poles. They looked light and fluffy, but once theynded on you, it didn''t take long for your wet clothes to turn into ice.


    The street was normally busy, but in the freezing cold of winter andte at night, traffic was whizzing by too fast for her to g down a taxi.


    Shivering, she took out her phone to check the ride-sharing app. What was supposed to be a five-minute wait three minutes ago had turned into half an hour.


    She nced at the map, glowing red, showing the driver stuck some distance away. As she debated whether to cancel, a car slowly stopped beside her.


    The window rolled down, revealing a familiar face with gentle, clear-cut features. Owen was wearing a deep grey turtleneck sweater, the outline of his Adam''s apple partially visible. From Roseanne''s angle, his profile seemed cast in shadow, adding warmth to his otherwise aloof demeanor.


    "It''s hard to get a ride around here at this hour. I''m heading home, too. Hop in."


    Once inside the car, noticing Roseanne was cold, Owen cranked up the heating to the max.


    Remembering he had a heat pack in the glovepartment, he handed it to her. "Warm up with this for now."


    Roseanne felt her hands were no better than ice sticks. With the heat pack and the warm air circting inside the car, she gradually felt life seeping back into her.


    "Thanks. I thought I would freeze to death at the airport." Roseanne sniffled, recalling how Leda had offered to arrange her a driver. Not wanting to bother anyone, she declined, not anticipating the struggle to find a ride from the airport.


    Owen nced at her. "There''s a significant conference in town, so there''s a bit of a traffic mpdown, including the ride-shares. That''s why it''s hard to find a cab."


    Roseanne had a lightbulb moment. "No wonder there were so few taxis on the road. I thought I hadnded in another world."


    Turning toward Owen, she asked, "And you? Howe you''re here at the airport at this hour?"


    Owen exined, "A family elder was


    returning home, and I came to pick


    her and


    took a cab before I arripide


    But she was tired of waiting I


    After receiving a call, he started heading back, only to see Roseanne standing in the cold because re in his rearview mirror, prompting him to turn around.


    Roseanne nodded, not prying further.


    At a red light, Owen asked, "Feeling warmer now?"


    "Yeah," Roseanne bit her lip,


    embave spent a few


    in the


    days


    and suddenly, I''m not here."


    coping well with the cold


    "I brought you a little something." She remembered something and opened her backpack.


    Owen was momentarily stunned. "A gift?"


    "Yes, for you and Ms. Payne. Both of you." Roseanne said, handing him his share, "When I saw it, it reminded me of you." Owen checked out the little statue wearing a shirt and pants, with gold-framed sses sitting on its nose, holding a book.


    The expression was supposed to be serious, but the exaggerated yet adorable proportions of the body made it look rather humorous.


    After a brief silence, Owenmented, "Really? Aside from us wearing sses, I don''t see much resemnce."N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.