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 bitter tears, which betrayed her true feelings—she was still deeply in

I get

comforting Cassandra, to

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,

some of her tears glistened as

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

bit her hand

Open the damn door!

the door desperately, not giving a damn about his

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

with dread. He ached to hold her in

what he just said only added more water to her tears.

that? Give me whatever I want?' she thought to herself, full of doubt. What she wanted

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

do that, Rufus?' she cried silently.

I can only feel my way into my

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

the tragedy that was their romance. How could she have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant

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

never bothered by her unfavorable circumstances of birth, nor by what others thought of her. But in Rufus's heart, Amanda had been gradually tipping the scales in her

up at the empty white ceiling and sometimes looked at the distant night sky, sparsely populated by

Rufus behaved

waited. She waited for his explanation, but now she was

him gone, she thought she would suffer less and shed fewer tears

eyes, fighting

weary heart. One neighbor

what in the world

never experienced such desparation.

He felt

door with all his might, again to no avail. He

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

when Cassandra felt the door shake. He apparently

sounded to be in too much stress. Cassandra started to get

am so,

the constant crying. She felt spent; her

relieved him

by the

rest. I'll see you