A Graduation Gift

"Courtney!"

Whitney cried loudly. There were desperation and agony in her ear-piercing shriek.

Cassandra's heart sank horribly when she heard thescream. She rushed to the room where the voice came from and gasped when she saw what had happened inside.

The white European-style engraving dresser was turned upside down, and things that were once neatly placed on it were scattered on the floor.

Strong fragrance from a broken perfume bottle filled the room. Still, it failed to mask the smell of blood.

Courtney's long-sleeved silk nightgown was stained with blood. Cassandra's heart skipped a beat when she saw this.

The girl sitting on the floor was holding a piece of blade on her left hand, her face oblivious to her mother's scream. The shining piece of metal was bloody, too.

Looking closer, Cassandra realized that Courtney had cut herself. Blood oozed from the wound. And it stunned her just as much as it did Whitney.

After what felt like a long time, the frightened mother rushed to her daughter's side and knelt beside her. The girl still sat on her knees and gave no response at all. Whitney snatched the blade and flung it to a corner of the room before begging, "Please don't do this, Courtney!"

Then, tears started streaming down the poor woman's cheeks. Surrendering to the?sobs, she held the bloody girl tightly as she cried hoarsely.

"I don't know what to do, sweetheart!" she wailed, heartbroken. "I did not know when you'll give up and hurt yourself. It pains me so much to see you like this."

Whitney's face that was distorted in agony was a stark contrast to her daughter's, which was blank and indifferent, staring into the abyss.

Cassandra put her hands over her mouth to stop herself from screaming. The strain of the situation was too much for her, and she nearly burst into tears as well.

Whitney had told her that Courtney might have some mental problems, but she did not expect it to be so grave. She was thinking something possibly like sleepwalking or reluctance to interact with people, not to an extend that she would be predisposed to self-harm.

It now made sense why Whitney chose to be away from most people. She was a proud woman. She knew how gossip would spread if anyone found out that she had a mentally ill daughter.

Feeling pity, tears finally welled up in her eyes as Cassandra watched the mother holding the girl and crying her heart out.

Just then, they heard quick footsteps from downstairs. Seconds later, a man in a suit was led to the room by a steward.

The man was around 50 years old, and carried a medical kit with him. He wore grave expression as he strode into the room.

Hope shone in Whitney's eyes seeing the man.

"You must help her, Smithers. She... has cut her own wrist," Whitney pleaded.

stepped aside to allow the doctor to get closer. It was then that Cassandra realized that the blood had stained her

beside Courtney, took out some drugs and bandage from his kit, and put the bandage around her wounded wrist after rolling up

doctor dressed her wound, she continued to stare in a daze, as if

nothing more like a broken doll now—no soul, no feelings. Her lifeless

you to take good care of her? It is true that she is

advised, frowning. The man seemed

she would do it again. She hasn't acted like this for months, so I thought that she

helpless. Unlike what Cassandra saw the morning she arrived, her hair was no longer clean and tidy. Instead, she looked like a sorry figure with all the messy locks on her face. She was clearly so worried about her daughter that she did not have time to fix her appearance.

has been troubling her!" the doctor declared. "Make sure that she keeps taking the

Smithers turned to leave. Before walking out of the room, he looked at Courtney and shook his

" he lamented with a sign of regret on his face. "What a

is eating away at Courtney's soul? What on earth

some clean clothes sent up here now and help Courtney change. And I want the floor here cleaned

she mustered to give her instructions

like to help her

Courtney and wished that there was something she could do for her.

you, Cassandra. Thank you so much," responded Whitney. "I'll have a talk with the doctor, call me if you need

Cassandra a grateful look and went downstairs

enough, a servant girl brought some clothes in. Cassandra took them over and closed the door, getting ready to help Courtney change together with the girl.

just allowed them to do whatever

saw some old wounds on her arms. Those were deep-creased?scars. It was quite dreadful to see

that a girl as beautiful as Courtney would have these horrific scars on the body that most women would

clothes, the servant girl

collar. Suddenly, a necklace around Courtney's neck caught her attention. She paused to study

heart-shaped silver locket carved with vines that adorned its two windows. Cassandra realized immediately that it was a pendant in which Courtney might carry

to close it, she

The face in the photo expanded in her head until it was so blindingly clear.

brow, and gave herself a little shake as if to shut the

she was knocked by

his picture?' she wondered. 'What might be the

possible that he has anything to do

as she was lost in thought, Courtney

face, as though the doll had come to

watching a girl