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

you as soon as I get off work tomorrow

comforting Cassandra,

as she closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, "it's impossible for us to be together. I mean

some of her tears glistened as they fell of her

left Rufus standing outside. She refused to open it no matter how hard he banged

hand to keep her sobs from escaping. She didn't

the damn

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

to me!

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

what he just said only added more water to her

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

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

can you really do that, Rufus?' she cried

different direction into unknown lands. I can only feel my way into my world since it was so dark, ' her

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

Nonetheless, his constant profession of his

naive of her

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

Countless lonely nights, Cassandra would stare up at the empty white ceiling and sometimes looked at the distant night sky, sparsely populated by

time, Rufus behaved like

explanation, but

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

fighting back

One neighbor popped his head out of the window and eyed

world is it that

experienced

heart. He felt his blood boiling; his heart could beat out of his chest.

again to no avail. He only bruised

care. I'll bring it down

felt the door shake. He apparently charged

next few seconds, the hinge sounded to be in too much stress. Cassandra started to

so, so tired. I want to

out by the constant crying. She felt spent; her tears had run

response relieved him a

the little woman's weary

let you rest. I'll see you