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!"

What he believed were her bitter tears, which betrayed her

here for you as soon as I get

tried comforting Cassandra, to no avail.

Cassandra shook 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

step back and turned around, some of her tears glistened as they fell of her eyes. She then returned

slammed the door shut, full of bitterness, and left Rufus standing outside. She

door, Cassandra slowly sunk to the ground. She bit her hand to keep her sobs from escaping. She didn't want Rufus to hear.

Open the damn

kicked and banged the door desperately, not giving

begging you, please talk to me! I'll

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

what he just said only added

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

and faithful to her, with whom she could

that, Rufus?'

unknown lands. I can only feel my way into my world since it was so dark, ' her thoughts recalled all the past events since they met.

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

How could she have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant profession of his love for her never failed

and only her, but it was just wishful thinking and naive of her to believe

by what others thought of her. But in Rufus's

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

Rufus behaved like it was

She waited for his explanation, but now she was tired

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

her eyes, fighting

weary heart. One neighbor popped his head out of the window and eyed the

what in the world is

never experienced such desparation.

bring such chaos into his heart. He felt

all his might, again to no

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

felt the door shake. He apparently

the next few seconds, the hinge sounded to be in too much

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

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

him a little.

by the little woman's weary tone.

you rest.