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!"

had just heard. What he believed were her bitter tears, which betrayed her true feelings—she was still deeply in love

soon as I get

comforting Cassandra,

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

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

of bitterness, and left Rufus standing outside. She refused to open it no matter how hard he banged on the

sunk to the ground. She bit her hand

the damn

kicked and banged the door desperately, not giving

to me!

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

said only added

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

devoted and faithful to

that,

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 the past events since

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

that was their romance. How could she have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant profession of his love for her never failed to disarm her

and naive of her to believe that. She had

what others thought of her. But in Rufus's

and over 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 and sometimes looked at the distant night sky, sparsely populated by stars. She twisted

after time, Rufus behaved like it was

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

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

shut her eyes, fighting back the tears.

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

what in the world is it that you

experienced such desparation.

heart. He felt

his might, again to no avail. He

bring it down if you don't open this damn door

when Cassandra felt the door shake. He apparently charged at it.

sounded to be in too much stress. Cassandra started to

am so tired...I am so,

been worn out by the constant crying. She

relieved him

by the little

let you rest. I'll see