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!"

heard. What he believed were her

be here for you as soon as I get off work

tried comforting Cassandra,

impossible for us to be together. I mean it, Rufus. I really don't love you anymore. I can't continue

turned around, some of her tears glistened as they fell of her eyes. She then returned to her apartment.

bitterness, and left Rufus standing outside. She refused to open it no matter how

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

the

the door desperately, not giving a

please talk to me! I'll do whatever

weeping filled Rufus with dread. He ached to hold her in

just said only added

of doubt. What she

life, a man devoted and faithful to her, with whom she

that, Rufus?' she cried silently.

can only feel my way into my world

his magnetism and looks. He was so perfect, aside from his identity.

had clearly foreshadowed the tragedy that was their romance. How could she have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant profession of

of her to believe that. She had been

was never bothered by her unfavorable circumstances of birth, nor by what others thought of her. But in Rufus's heart, Amanda had been gradually tipping the scales

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

time after time, Rufus behaved like it was

explanation, but now she was tired of it.

less and shed fewer tears for the rest of her life.

eyes, fighting

was talking sweetly to her, trying to soothe her weary heart. One neighbor popped his head out of the window and

world is

experienced such

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

all his might, again to no

it down if you don't open this

the door shake. He apparently charged at

hinge sounded to be in too much stress.

so, so

crying. She felt spent; her tears had run

response relieved him

by the little

I'll let you rest. I'll