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 were her bitter tears, which

be here for you as soon as I get off

tried comforting Cassandra, to no

her head slowly as she closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, "it's impossible for us to be together. I mean it, Rufus. I really don't

and turned around, some of her tears glistened as they

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

She bit her hand to

Open the damn door!

giving

begging you, please talk to

ached to hold her in his

added more water to her

she thought to herself, full of doubt. What she wanted was quite simple, but it was a simple thing that he could

wanted nothing more than a simple life, a man devoted and faithful to her,

you really do that, Rufus?' she

life began to take a different direction into unknown lands. I can only feel my way into

absolutely enthralled by him, drawn by his

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

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

never bothered by her unfavorable circumstances of birth, nor by what others thought of her. But in Rufus's heart,

would stare up at the empty white ceiling and sometimes looked at the distant night sky, sparsely populated by stars. She twisted and turned, haunted by nightmares.

time, Rufus behaved like it was

for his explanation, but now

and shed fewer tears for the rest

shut her eyes, fighting back

trying to soothe her weary heart. One neighbor popped his

the world is

never experienced such

woman could bring such chaos into his heart. He felt his blood boiling;

again to no avail. He only bruised his

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

his words when Cassandra felt the door shake. He apparently

be

so tired...I am so, so tired. I

eyes had been worn out by the constant crying.

him a little.

flipped by the little woman's

you rest. I'll