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

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

She was almost knocked flat by the

getting in her eyes and mouth

and the cold had seeped deep

needed to get away from Rufus, but she had nowhere to run in such a storm.

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

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 filthy.

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

about 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 was when Rufus found her.

like a hero from the rain, but why did the

the frightened look on Cassandra's face.

me take you to tidy yourself up," the man ordered firmly.

tears. Her eyes looked empty and unfocused, and she seemed to lack the strength to

to wipe the water from her face, and nearly drew back in

to you? I'm with you. Don't worry. It's okay," the man tried

had never seen her look so much like a corpse, and the lifelessness in her eyes sent a chill down

to him, he tried to use his

eyes looked momentarily up at him, and

realized that he couldn't waste another second asking her how she

seat of his car, buckled her in and brushed some of the hair out of her face. He wished he

his family, spending nights here at times

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

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

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

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

the warmth in the

he respectfully helped her peel off her ruined clothing,

gradually stopped quivering

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

water over her shoulders

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

she spoke softly, "I can do

she whispered, she didn't dare turn her head back to look at the man behind her. Rufus just

firmly resist. He would definitely take the

were many women who would love this kind of treatment from