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?"

The rain streamed across his face,

that she had heard him. The tears streaming out of her eyes mingled with the rain pouring

into the rain at the spur of the moment. She was almost knocked

her

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

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

she couldn't

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

and her body was trembling so

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

like a hero from the rain, but why did the sight of him not fill her with relief?

went furious when he saw the

tidy yourself up," the

nothing Rufus said could provoke anything more than just cry more tears. Her eyes looked empty

a hand to wipe the water from her face, and nearly

you? I'm with you. Don't worry. It's okay,"

seen her look so much like a corpse, and

her close to him, he tried to use his body

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

realized that he couldn't waste another second asking

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 could through the

had kept this place a secret from his family, spending nights here at

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

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

of the hospital, and feared that her time

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

could feel the warmth in the gentle way that he handled

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

calm her; she gradually stopped quivering and began

seemed that…he had just... 'Oh no...' she

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

mirrors steamed up in the room, a

she spoke softly, "I can do

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

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

love this kind of treatment from him, but he would only do