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!"

a snarl. He refused to believe what he had just heard. What he believed were her

as soon as I get off work

tried comforting Cassandra, to no

head slowly as she closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, "it's impossible for us to be together. I mean it,

back and turned around, some of her tears glistened as they fell of her eyes. She then

Rufus standing outside. She refused to open

to the ground. She bit her hand to keep her sobs

Open the

not giving

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

of her weeping filled Rufus with dread. He ached to hold her

he just said only added more water

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

man devoted and faithful to her, with

do that, Rufus?' she cried silently.

unknown lands. I can only

she married Lionel, she was absolutely enthralled by him, drawn by his magnetism and

romance. How could she have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant

completely devoted to her and only her, but it was just wishful thinking and naive of her to

birth, nor by what others thought of her. But in Rufus's heart, Amanda had been gradually tipping the scales in her

Amanda would take Rufus away from her. Countless lonely nights, Cassandra would stare up at

after time, Rufus behaved like it was nothing.

waited for his explanation, but now she was

less and shed fewer tears for the rest of her

shut her eyes, fighting back

talking sweetly to her, trying to soothe her weary heart. One neighbor popped his

world

never experienced such desparation.

heart. He felt his blood boiling; his

again to no avail. He only

me or not, I don't care. I'll bring it down if you don't open this

Cassandra felt the door

hinge sounded to be in too much stress. Cassandra

am so, so

worn out by the constant crying. She felt

response relieved him a little.

heart flipped by the

I'll let you rest. I'll see you