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!"

What he believed

soon as I get

comforting Cassandra, to no

for us to be together. I mean it, Rufus. I really don't love you anymore. I can't continue to love you. I can't

of her tears glistened as they fell of her eyes. She

standing outside. She refused to open it no matter how

ground. She bit her hand to keep her sobs

the damn

not giving a damn about his priceless Italian

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

to hold her in his arms, to reassure her

only added

of doubt. What she wanted was quite simple, but it was a simple thing that he could never give her.

devoted and faithful to her, with whom she

can you really do that, Rufus?' she

different direction into unknown lands. I can only feel my

him, drawn by his magnetism and looks.

have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant

her, but it was just wishful thinking and naive of her to believe that. She had been so confident, but now it had all disappeared

of her. But in Rufus's heart, Amanda had been gradually tipping the scales in her

again, by simple calls and messages, Amanda would take Rufus away from her. Countless lonely nights, Cassandra would stare up at the empty white ceiling

behaved

waited for his explanation, but now she was tired of it.

suffer less and shed fewer tears for the

shut her eyes, fighting back

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

what in the world is it that you

had never experienced such

his heart. He felt his blood boiling; his heart could beat out

punched the door with all his might, again to

bring it down if you don't

felt the door

to be in

am so, so

been worn out by the constant crying. She felt spent; her tears had

relieved him a little.

flipped by the little woman's

I'll let you rest. I'll see