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?"

streamed across his face, and the wind

no indication that she had heard him. The tears streaming out of her eyes mingled with

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

to her face, getting 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.

from Rufus, but she had nowhere to run

she couldn't go back either. Cassandra kept running.

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

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

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

rain, but why did the sight of him not fill her with relief?

when he saw the frightened look

take you to tidy

tears. Her eyes looked empty and unfocused,

a hand to wipe the water from her face, and

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

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

use his body

her stir a little, and her eyes looked momentarily

couldn't waste another second asking her how

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

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

was simply but stylishly decorated, expensive but not luxurious. It was spacious, but tidy and well-maintained. Cassandra wondered why Rufus would have such a secret space to

tears had dried on Cassandra's face, but her body still trembled all over.

just recently come out of the hospital, and feared that her time in the

even a typhoon could

the gentle way that he handled

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

she gradually stopped quivering and began to come to her senses.

seemed that…he had just... 'Oh no...'

trickled some water over her shoulders to warm her body up.

to return to her face, and as the mirrors steamed

spoke softly, "I can

dare turn her head back to look at the man behind

that the little woman didn't firmly resist.

of treatment from him, but he would only do this