A Graduation Gift

A heavy silence permeated the elevator. Cassandra glanced at the redness spreading over Rufus' hand, and felt her heart squeeze in pain.

She tried to keep the tears in her eyes from running down her face.

"Rufus… You… You asshole!"

The words burst from her. She struggled to get her emotions under control, barely noticing that her fingernails were dug into her palms. Her voice trembled with emotion.

Her reaction made Rufus's face soften.

He looked away from her, wanting to conceal the swirl of emotions in his nebulous eyes.

Each droplet of tears that escaped from her eyes splashed straight onto his heart.

His heart became heavier and heavier.

As soon as the lift doors opened, Cassandra rushed out. After a second Rufus realized that she was heading not toward the carpark, but towards the exit.

While he stood there stunned, Cassandra disappeared into the heavy rain.

He dashed to the main gate, but Cassandra was nowhere to be seen.

The swirling sky above him, was dark as ink. A traffic light stood out in the storm, a beacon in the night.

He stood for a second, and then spun back toward the carpark. Climbed into his car, he sped out of the building right away.

The car seared through the thundering weather; the wipers screeching hopelessly against the downpour. He peered through the rain, barely able to see the road. He had no idea how he would find Cassandra.

But Rufus was determined. Slowly, he circled around the block, driving back and forth for some time before finally spotting a bedraggled woman at the corner of the street.

She was huddled under a ledge outside of a darkened shop. The ledge barely kept the rain from her, with water lashing at her on either side.

As he parked the car and leapt out of the door, he saw her sitting on haunches and staring blankly at the rain.

He ripped his coat off and covered her with it.

He crouched down and put his arms around her, almost flinching as he felt how cold and drenched she was.

"What were you thinking? Do you know how severe this typhoon is?"

keep the anger and fear out of his voice. The rain streamed across his face,

streaming out of her eyes mingled with the rain

was almost knocked flat by

clung to her face, getting in her eyes and mouth and

clothes were soaked and heavy, and the cold had seeped

She needed to get away from Rufus, but she had nowhere to run in such a

see a way forward. And she couldn't go

the rain, she tripped and fell to her knees. When she lifted her hands she found them covered in dirt and mud, and after

they were turning, and her body was trembling so much that she could barely stand.

when she ran out of the carpark nor realized how dangerous this weather would be. In desperation she ran to find some kind of shelter. This was when Rufus found

but why did

when he saw the

you to tidy yourself up,"

nothing Rufus said could provoke anything more than just cry more tears. Her eyes looked empty and unfocused, and she seemed to lack the

worried. He reached out a hand to wipe the water from her face, and nearly drew back in shock when he felt

happened to you? I'm with you. Don't worry. It's okay," the man

like a corpse, and the lifelessness

him, he tried to use his body to shelter

eyes looked momentarily up

he couldn't waste another second asking her how she

his arms under her arms, lifting her gently and cradling her head against his chest. He brought her carefully to the passenger seat of his car, buckled her in and brushed some of the hair out of her face. He wished he had a blanket to give her. He drove to his house, as fast as he

family, spending nights here at times instead of

but stylishly decorated, expensive but not luxurious. It was spacious, but tidy and well-maintained. Cassandra wondered why Rufus would have

tears had dried on Cassandra's face, but

the hospital, and feared that her time in the

you to run out in the rain like that? What, not even a typhoon could

could feel the warmth in the gentle way

her peel off her ruined clothing, and lowered her into the hot

heat of the water seemed to calm her; she gradually stopped quivering and

had just... 'Oh

over

face, and as the mirrors steamed up in the room, a blush rose

she spoke softly, "I can

didn't dare turn her head back to look at the

the little woman didn't firmly resist. He would definitely take the chance to serve the beauty.

women who would love this kind of treatment from