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?"

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

heard him. The tears streaming out

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

getting in her eyes and mouth and entwining around

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

didn't know where to turn. She needed to get away from Rufus, but she had nowhere to run

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

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

of how blue they were turning, and her body was

carpark nor realized how dangerous this weather would be.

but why did the sight of

the frightened look on Cassandra's

Let me take you to tidy yourself

Rufus said could provoke anything more than just cry more tears. Her eyes looked empty and unfocused, and she seemed to lack the strength to lift her

water from her face, and nearly drew back in shock when he felt

It's okay," the man tried to reassure

and the lifelessness in her eyes sent a chill

him, he tried to use his body to shelter her

and her eyes looked momentarily up

that he couldn't waste another second

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 kept this place a secret from his family, spending

decorated, expensive but not luxurious. It was spacious, but tidy and well-maintained. Cassandra

face, but

that she had just recently come out of the hospital, and feared that her time in the rain would make her sick again. His heart hammered at the thought.

What, not even a typhoon could stop you from acting out?" Rufus scolded her, but with no real anger

could feel the warmth in the gentle way that he handled

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

calm her; she gradually stopped

just... 'Oh no...' she

uninjured hand, Rufus trickled some water over

face, and as the mirrors steamed up

last, she spoke softly, "I

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

firmly resist. He would definitely take

there were many women who would love this kind of