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 of his mouth.

streaming out of her eyes mingled with

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

clung to her face, getting in her eyes and mouth and

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

away from Rufus, but she had

forward. And she couldn't go back either.

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

were turning, and her body was trembling so much

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.

him again, now, emerging like a hero from the rain, but why did the sight of him not fill

furious when he saw the frightened look on

Let me take you to tidy yourself up," the man

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

worried. He reached out a hand to wipe the water from her face, and nearly drew back in shock when he

worry. It's okay," the man tried

much like a corpse, and the lifelessness in her eyes sent

her close to him, he tried to use his body to shelter her from

he felt her stir a little, and her eyes looked

waste another second

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

spending nights here at times instead of at the office.

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

on Cassandra's face, but

remembered 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

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

feel the warmth in the gentle way that

helped her peel off

calm her; she gradually stopped quivering and began to come

that…he had just... 'Oh

hand, Rufus trickled some water over her shoulders

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

spoke softly, "I can do it

back to look at the man behind her. Rufus just ignored

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

women who would love this kind of treatment from him, but he would