A Graduation Gift

Cassandra held her breath against the invisible hands that gripped at her heart.

Love was a trap. At one second, warmth would fill her and send her feet floating off the ground; the next moment, it would send her crumbling as if knives were cutting through her heartstrings. Rufus enveloped her with joy such as that she had never known before, and he came in her life at a time when she least expected it. Despite this, she was not allowed that. Just as he came, he was free to come and go whenever he pleased, and certainty was something that did not exist between them. At times, she felt like a ship without an anchor, forever drifting in the waves of her emotions.

At this moment, the waters of Cassandra's mind were filled with nothing but turbulence. Rufus said, time and again, that he loved her and that she occupied his heart. Why were his eyes following another woman then? Cassandra thought long and hard, but the silence of her thoughts offered no answers.

The red roses that Rufus brought were blossoming, their petals moist with water. To Cassandra, the trembling dewdrops looked like tears under the faint lamplight.

Rufus slammed on the gas and drove as fast as he could to the hospital, heading straight to Amanda's ward.

Her lone figure appeared to him as he opened the door. She was sitting immobile at the edge of her bed, her face emotionless.

The sound of the door pulled her attention and she turned her head to him.

"Thank you for coming, Rufus!" she said, forcing a smile on her lips.

It was a strange expression to see in her face. Gone was the light of the proud pianist he had always known her to be. Despite the curve of her lips, she looked so sad.

"What did the doctor say?" Rufus asked immediately.

He heard earlier that she was sent to the hospital from loss of oxygen, but something nagged at him. He wanted to be sure.

suspected that I might get the Becket's disease," she murmured, speaking in a hushed

the slight

that enveloped Amanda was something

sure about it?" Rufus

out for the medical record on the headboard. There was nothing

tests later and the results will come out in two weeks," she told him in a pained voice, as if speaking physically exhausted her.

never once thought that something like this could happen to her. A rush of anxiety poured through her

her pleading eyes to meet his. "Can you stay here with me,

that clutched at his shirt. Cassandra was still waiting for him, and he had thought that he could go back to her after

some emergency. Please, Rufus! Don't leave me here alone," she pleaded

began to sob. Tears were running down

sight of her. There was nothing else he could do. He did not have it in him to leave Amanda at such a trying time. He owed that much to her father. Charlie was the one person who believed in him when he had little more than nothing to his

reached out for his hand

you. Go to sleep and rest,"

in this cold and dark hospital alone, at a time when she was sick? He was left with no other

gratitude and relief, and closed her eyes. Fear and exhaustion had taken a toll on her,

around and went outside to the balcony. He lit a cigarette and took a long drag. Spirals of smoke rose from the stick and disappeared with his breath

Group, Charlie saw red as he thrust the documents on his hand to