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

gave no indication that she had heard him. The tears streaming out of her eyes mingled with the

the rain at the spur of the moment. She was almost knocked flat by the storm, but her need to escape pushed

clung to her face, getting in her eyes and mouth

the cold had seeped

to get away from Rufus, but

see a way forward. And she couldn't go

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

of how blue they were turning, and her body was trembling so much that

dangerous this weather would be. In desperation she ran to find some kind of shelter. This

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

went furious when he saw the frightened look on

take you to tidy yourself up," the man ordered

Rufus said could provoke anything more than just cry more tears. Her eyes looked empty and unfocused, and she seemed

He reached out a hand to wipe the water from her face, and nearly drew back in shock when he felt how cold she

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

and the lifelessness in her eyes sent a

tried to use his body to shelter

felt her stir a little, and her eyes looked momentarily up

second asking

brushed some of the hair out of her face.

this place a secret from his family, spending nights

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

dried on Cassandra's face, but her body

the hospital, and feared that her

to run out in the rain like that? What, not even a typhoon could stop you from acting out?" Rufus

could feel the warmth in the gentle way that he

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

calm her; she gradually stopped quivering and began to come to

'Oh no...' she thought,

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

to her face, and as the mirrors steamed up in

she spoke softly,

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

the little woman didn't firmly resist.

there were many women who would love this kind of treatment from him, but he would only do this for Cassandra.