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?"

of his voice. The rain streamed across his face, and the

The tears streaming out of

into the rain at the spur of the moment. She was almost knocked flat by the storm, but her need to

in her eyes and mouth and entwining around

cold had seeped deep into her flesh

She needed to get away from Rufus, but she had nowhere

way forward. And she couldn't go back either. Cassandra kept running.

When she lifted her hands she found them covered in

of how blue they were turning, and her body was

cold 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.

again, now, emerging like a hero from the rain, but why

he saw the frightened look on Cassandra's

me take you to tidy yourself up," the

eyes looked empty and unfocused, and she seemed

worried. He reached out a hand to wipe the water from her face, and nearly

with you. Don't worry. It's okay," the man tried to

and

him, he tried to use his

a little, and her eyes looked momentarily up at him, and

another second asking her how she was

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

this place a secret from his family, spending nights here at times instead of at the office.

luxurious. It was spacious, but tidy and well-maintained. Cassandra wondered

tears had dried on Cassandra's face, but

recently come out of the hospital, and feared that her time in the rain would make her sick again. His heart hammered at the thought.

you to run out in the rain like that? What, not even a typhoon could stop you from acting out?" Rufus scolded her, but with no real anger behind his words.

the gentle way that he

could not move, he respectfully helped her peel off her ruined clothing, and lowered her into the hot bath.

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

'Oh no...' she

his uninjured hand, Rufus trickled some water over her shoulders to

the mirrors steamed up in the room, a blush rose

softly, "I can do it

head back to look at the man behind her. Rufus just

woman didn't firmly resist. He would definitely take the chance

who would love this kind of treatment from