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 out

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

was almost knocked flat by the storm, but her need to escape

getting in her eyes

were soaked and heavy, and the cold had seeped deep into

to get away from Rufus, but she had nowhere to run in

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

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

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

carpark nor realized how dangerous this weather would be. In desperation she ran to find some

from the rain, but why did the sight of him not fill

furious when he saw the frightened look on Cassandra's

take you to tidy yourself up,"

just cry more tears. Her eyes looked empty and

hand to wipe the water from her face,

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

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

use his body

and her eyes looked momentarily up

couldn't waste another second asking

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.

place a secret from his family, spending nights here at times instead

was spacious, but tidy and well-maintained. Cassandra wondered why Rufus would have

tears had dried on Cassandra's face, but

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

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

feel the warmth in the gentle way that

not move, he respectfully helped her

the water seemed to calm her; she gradually

seemed that…he had just... 'Oh no...' she thought, 'not

hand, Rufus trickled some water over her shoulders to warm her body

color started to return to her face, and as the mirrors steamed

spoke softly, "I

head back to look at the man behind

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

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