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!"

he believed

for you as soon as I get off

Cassandra, to no

impossible 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 afford it anymore, so

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

slammed the door shut, full of bitterness, and left Rufus standing outside. She refused to open it no matter

door, Cassandra slowly sunk to the ground. She bit her hand to keep her sobs from escaping. She

the damn door!

kicked and banged the door desperately, not giving a damn

begging you, please talk to me!

He ached to hold her in his arms, to reassure her

said only added more water to her

What she wanted was

simple life, a man devoted and faithful to

that, Rufus?' she

is full of excitement. Ever since I met you, my life began to take a different direction into unknown lands. I can only feel my way into my world

she was absolutely enthralled by him, drawn by his magnetism and looks. He was so

could she have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant profession of his love for her never failed to disarm her and

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

by what others thought of her. But

and messages, Amanda would take Rufus away from her. Countless lonely nights, Cassandra would stare up at the empty white ceiling and sometimes looked at the distant night sky,

time, Rufus behaved like it

She waited for his explanation, but now she was tired

gone, she thought she would suffer less and shed fewer tears for the rest

eyes, fighting

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

what in the world is

experienced such desparation.

woman could bring such chaos into his heart. He felt his

all his might, again to no

it down if you don't open this damn

when Cassandra felt the door shake. He

the hinge sounded to be in too much stress. Cassandra started to

tired...I am so, so tired. I want to

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

relieved him a little.

the little woman's weary

I'll let you rest.