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?"

to keep the anger and fear out of his voice. The rain streamed across his face, and the wind ripped the words from

streaming out of her eyes mingled with the rain pouring down

the rain at the spur of the moment. She was almost knocked flat by

face, getting in her

the cold had seeped deep into her flesh and bones.

know where to turn. She needed to get away from Rufus, but she had nowhere to run

see a way forward. And she couldn't go back

her knees. When she lifted her hands she found them covered in dirt and mud,

her lips together, unaware of how blue they were turning, and her body was trembling so much that she could

the 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. This

from the rain, but why did the sight of him

went furious when he saw the frightened

to tidy yourself up," the

could provoke anything more than just cry more tears. Her eyes looked empty and unfocused, and she seemed to lack

wipe the water from her face, and nearly drew back in shock when he felt how

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

look so much like a corpse, and the lifelessness in

to him, he tried to use his body to shelter her from the rain.

her eyes looked momentarily up at him, and then

second asking

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 could through the dangerous

secret from his family, spending nights here at times instead

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

had dried on Cassandra's face, but her body still trembled

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

What, not even a typhoon could stop you from acting out?" Rufus scolded her, but

warmth in the gentle way that he

still could not move, he respectfully helped her peel off her ruined clothing, and lowered

gradually stopped quivering and began to come to her senses.

just... 'Oh no...' she thought,

over her

face, and as the mirrors steamed

spoke softly, "I can do it

dare turn her head back to look at the man behind her. Rufus

resist.

kind of treatment from him, but he would only