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?"

out of his voice. The rain streamed across his face, and the wind ripped the words from out of his mouth.

indication that she had heard him. The tears streaming out of her eyes mingled

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

her face, getting in her eyes and mouth and

the cold had seeped deep into her flesh and

where to turn. She needed to get away from Rufus, but she had

And she couldn't go back either.

the rain, 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

and her body was

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.

was him again, now, emerging like a hero from the rain, but why did

furious when he saw the frightened look on

crying. Let me take you to tidy yourself up,"

cry more tears. Her eyes looked empty and unfocused, and she

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

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

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

he tried to use his body to shelter

stir a little, and her eyes looked momentarily

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

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

spending

house was simply but stylishly decorated, expensive but not luxurious. It was spacious, but tidy and well-maintained.

on Cassandra's face, but her body still

that she had just recently come out of the hospital, and feared that her time in the rain would make her

even a typhoon could stop you from acting out?" Rufus scolded her, but with no real

warmth in the gentle

respectfully helped her peel off her ruined clothing, and lowered her into the

to calm her; she gradually stopped quivering

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

trickled some water over her shoulders to warm her

as the mirrors steamed up in

spoke softly,

turn her head back to look

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

would love this kind of treatment from him, but he