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 with him.

for you as soon as I get off work tomorrow

Cassandra,

"it's 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 I give

around, some of her tears glistened as they fell of her

bitterness, and left Rufus standing outside. She

the ground. She bit her hand

the

not giving a damn about his priceless Italian

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

weeping filled Rufus with dread. He ached to hold her in his arms, to reassure her

added

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

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

can you really do that, Rufus?' she

can only feel my way into my world since it was so

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

tragedy that was their romance. How could she have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant profession of his love for her

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

what others thought of her. But in Rufus's heart, Amanda had been gradually tipping the scales in

Amanda would take Rufus away from her. Countless lonely nights, Cassandra would stare up at the empty white ceiling

time, Rufus behaved like it

for his explanation, but now

would suffer less and shed fewer

eyes, fighting back the

to her, trying to soothe her weary heart. One neighbor popped his head out of

what in the world is it

never experienced

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

all his might, again to no avail. He only

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

words when Cassandra felt the door shake. He

sounded to be in too much stress. Cassandra started to

so, so tired. I want

worn out by the constant crying. She felt

response relieved him a little.

by the little woman's weary tone.

let you rest.