It was the middle of winter break, and most students were off enjoying their holidays, leaving the campus looking like a ghost town.


    The security guard spotted her standing at the gate, sizing her up with a quick nce. "Must be college break, here to visit your teachers, huh?"


    Despite it being the holidays, a buzz of activity remained as seniors were stuck in prep sses for their final exams.


    Before Roseanne could utter a word, the guard, with his hands sped behind his back, waved her in, clearing his throat softly, "Go on in, but keep it down. Don''t disturb the seniors in session." Roseanne thought to herself, "Silence is golden," indeed.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    She wasn''t there to see any teachers, so she steered clear of the academic buildings.


    Instead, she wandered around the sports field a couple of times before deciding to leave. On her way out, she passed by the school''s trophy case.


    And there it was, her own photograph.


    Beneath it, a small inscription read:


    "Roseanne: ss of 20xx, Valedictorian in Science, epted into the Biology program at Kingswell University."


    The wind was picking up, causing her to avert her face slightly.


    Leaves rustled and danced in a mini whirlwind on the ground. What started as a sunny day quickly turned overcast.


    Roseanne raised her arm to shield her face from the wind, ready to leave, when suddenly, she heard someone cry out, "Mr. Cole="


    Looking up, it was indeed Norris!


    She recalled him mentioning just the previous night, during the Super Bowl party, that he had to drop by the school today to deliver some test papers to the seniors. And here he was.


    "Mr. Cole, you''re early. Don''t you have tons to do at home on Christmas'' Day?"


    The greeting came from a female teacher around Norris'' age.


    Roseanne recognized her; they lived in the same faculty housingplex, albeit in different buildings.


    This teacher also taught Physics, sharing the research group with Norris. While Norris took the honors sses, she handled the regr ones.


    Thus, Roseanne had never been her student, but her daughter, Teresa, was in the same ss as Roseanne.


    "Ms. Hunter," Norris greeted with a smile. "Not too busy at home, actually."


    "Really? Your daughter, Roseanne, she''s noting back for the holidays again?"


    The words were barely at the edge of Norris tips when Helen continued, "It''s just... she''s changed ever since going off to Lumina City for college. Abandoning her studies, and now, it seems, her family too."


    Norris attempted to interject, "Actually, Roseanne_"


    "No need to exin, I get it. Such a shame, really. She was such a bright student. Now, taking shortcuts like some misguided youngster, just goes to show how the glitz of the big citycan blind you."


    Norris'' smile faded slightly. "Who says my Roseanne is off track?"


    Helen''s smile faltered as she realized she might have said too much in front of Norris.


    But what was with Norris'' expression? She hadn''t made it up!


    Roseanne''s move to Lumina City for college and her failure to return was a fact!


    Dropping out of her master''s program without even trying to fake it!


    Rumors had it shetched onto some wealthy benefactor, bing the other woman in a messy affair. There''s no smoke without fire, right?


    "Mr. Cole, I understand your position,


    and it''s unfortunate. To see such a promising daughter go astray... Back then, we shouldn''t have let her


    attend Kingswell University. Sh


    could have stayed closer to home, attended Pinehollow University, or even gone to the city for Z University. Why chase after something out there?


    "Now, look where it''s gotten us. Once the bird flies the coop, it''s gone for good. You both must feel so unlucky..."