A Graduation Gift

'Tastes good? Must've been Amanda who said it.

Amanda bought this bread for him, but he turned around and gave it to me? It's ridiculous how he thinks I know nothing about this.

Rufus, you must be wallowing in satisfaction right now as two women pine for you at the same time.

What exactly am I to you?' she thought to herself.

Her trust in him was already at the brink of collapse, but because of this, it had fallen rock bottom. 'Is there any good reason, any reason at all to stay in a relationship with a man who uses what his other lover gave him to flatter me?' she wondered, apparently in a daze.

"Rufus, we're bearking up!"

Cassandra wrestled with herself before blurting it out, hear tears like torrents streaming down her cheeks.

"What's wrong with you, again?"

Rufus's smile was gone like the wind and was replaced with a look of concern when he saw her tears. A wave of panic engulfed him.

'Why is she crying? Is it because of my tardy return?

But no matter how upset she is, she has no right to break up with me because of that small slight, ' he thought and got kind of crossed.

"I remember saying that to you before, are you just using that to get back at me?"

Rufus asked, knitting his eyebrows and studying her expression, grasping for some sort of clue that would give away her true intentions.

Cassandra only shook her head, unable to say anything.

"Tell me what happened, Cassandra. Please, please talk to me,"

Rufus pleaded. He took Cassandra's arm and held it tightly. She was wracked with sobs.

His stomach did a one-eighty. He was so physically close to her, yet their hearts and feelings were so far away from each other.

He silently wished that she would stop being so stubborn and be gentle like other women. He just couldn't bear seeing her in tears.

"I don't love you anymore. We're done,"

Cassandra cried out desperately and in one swift motion, pulled her arm out of Rufus's grip.

Once upon a time she had always imagined that she would live a happy and peaceful family life with Rufus.

But the recent events had only reminded her that she was never good enough for him. They weren't fated to be with each other.

"No!"

snarl. He refused to believe what he had just heard. What he believed were her bitter tears, which betrayed her true feelings—she

for you as soon as I get off work tomorrow onwards, okay?" Don't say things like

tried comforting Cassandra, to no avail.

she closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, "it's impossible for us to be together. I mean it, Rufus. I really don't love you anymore. I can't continue

tears glistened as they fell

slammed the door shut, full of bitterness, and left Rufus standing outside. She refused to

her hand to keep her sobs from escaping. She didn't want Rufus to hear.

Open the

desperately, not giving a

you, please talk to me! I'll do whatever you

image of her weeping filled Rufus with dread. He ached to hold her in his arms, to reassure her that everything

said only added

thought to herself, full of doubt. What she wanted was quite

simple life, a man devoted and faithful to her, with whom she could

really do that, Rufus?' she

since I met you, my life began to take a different direction into unknown lands. I can only feel my way into my world since it was so dark, ' her thoughts recalled all

by him, drawn by his magnetism and

identity had clearly foreshadowed the tragedy that was their romance. How could she have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant profession of his love for

was just wishful thinking and naive of her to believe

others thought of

from her. Countless lonely nights, Cassandra would stare up at the empty white

after time, Rufus behaved like it was

for his explanation, but now she was tired

thought she would suffer less and shed fewer tears for the rest of her

fighting back the

soothe her weary heart. One neighbor popped his head out of the window and eyed the

the world is it that you

never experienced such desparation.

felt his blood

his might, again to no avail. He only bruised

care. I'll bring it down if you

when Cassandra felt the door

be in too much

am so, so tired. I want to

been worn out by the constant crying.

relieved him

heart flipped by the little woman's weary tone.

you rest. I'll see you