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?"

anger and fear out of his voice. The rain streamed

streaming out of her eyes mingled with the rain

spur of the moment. She was almost knocked flat by the storm, but her need to escape pushed her

in her eyes and mouth and entwining around her throat.

clothes were soaked and heavy, and the cold had seeped deep into her flesh and bones.

to get away from Rufus, but she had nowhere to

And she couldn't go back either. Cassandra kept

and fell to her knees. When she lifted her hands she found them covered in dirt and mud, and after standing up she

together, unaware of how blue they were turning, and her body

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

he saw the frightened look

Let me take you to tidy yourself up,"

Her eyes looked empty and unfocused, and she seemed to lack the strength to lift her limbs.

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

worry. It's okay,"

so much like a corpse, and the lifelessness in her eyes sent

tried to use his body to shelter

he felt her stir a little, and her eyes looked momentarily up at him, and then away.

another second asking

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

from his family, spending nights here at times

expensive but not luxurious. It was spacious, but tidy and well-maintained. Cassandra wondered

on Cassandra's face, but her

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

What, not even a typhoon could stop you from acting out?" Rufus scolded her, but with no real

could feel the warmth in the gentle

he saw that she still could not move, he respectfully helped her peel off her ruined clothing,

calm her; she gradually stopped quivering and

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

water over her shoulders to warm her body

as the mirrors steamed up in the room, a blush rose to her

softly, "I

dare turn her head back to look at the

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

women who would love this kind of