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

here for you as soon as I get

comforting Cassandra, to no

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 really don't love you anymore. I can't

her tears glistened as

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

slowly sunk to the ground. She bit her hand

the damn door!

not giving

to

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

he just said only added

whatever I want?' she thought to herself, full of doubt. What she wanted was

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

that, Rufus?' she cried silently.

to take a different direction into unknown lands. I can only feel

him, drawn by his magnetism and looks. He was so

identity had clearly foreshadowed the tragedy that was their romance. How could she have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant profession of his love for her never failed to disarm her and eventually, succumb to

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

others thought of her. But in

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

time after time, Rufus behaved like it was nothing.

explanation, but now she

less and shed fewer tears for the

her eyes, fighting

trying to soothe her weary heart. One neighbor popped his

the world

experienced such

other woman could bring such chaos into his heart. He felt his blood boiling; his heart

door with all his might, again to no avail. He only bruised his

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

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

few seconds, the hinge sounded to be in

am so tired...I am so, so tired. I

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

response relieved him a

heart flipped by the little

let you rest. I'll see you