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!"

just heard. What he believed were her bitter tears, which betrayed her

here for you as soon as I get off

tried comforting Cassandra, to no avail.

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

a step back and turned around, some of her tears glistened as they fell of

outside. She refused to open it

her hand

the damn

banged the door desperately, not giving a damn about his priceless Italian tailormade

to me! I'll

image of her weeping filled Rufus with dread. He ached to hold her in his arms, to reassure her that everything would be okay.

added

that? Give me whatever I want?' she thought to herself, full of doubt. What she wanted was quite simple, but it

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

can you really do that,

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

him, drawn by his magnetism and looks. He

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

but it was just wishful thinking and naive of her to believe that. She had been so confident, but now it had all disappeared in the face of Amanda.

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

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

time, Rufus behaved like it

She waited for his explanation, but now she was tired

would suffer less and

eyes, fighting

neighbor popped his head out

world is it that you

had never experienced

into his heart. He felt his blood boiling; his

all his might, again

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

finished his words when Cassandra felt the door shake. He apparently

be

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

been worn out by the constant crying. She felt

relieved him

the little woman's weary

let you rest. I'll see you