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!"

just heard. What he believed were her bitter tears, which betrayed her

as soon as I get off work tomorrow onwards,

comforting Cassandra, to no avail.

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

her tears glistened as they fell of her eyes. She then returned to her apartment.

the door shut, full of bitterness, and left Rufus standing outside. She refused to open it no matter how hard he banged on the door.

the door, Cassandra slowly sunk to the ground. She bit her hand to keep her

the damn door!

not giving a

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

to hold her in his arms, to reassure her that everything would be

only added more water

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

a simple life, a man devoted and faithful to her,

do that, Rufus?' she cried silently.

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

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

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

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

what others thought of her. But in Rufus's heart, Amanda had

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

behaved like it

waited for his explanation,

and

her eyes, fighting back the tears.

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

the world is it that

never experienced such desparation.

into his heart. He felt his blood boiling; his heart could beat out

punched the door with all his might, again to no avail.

I don't care. I'll bring it down if you don't

words when Cassandra felt the door shake. He apparently charged at it.

seconds, the hinge sounded to be

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

by the constant crying. She felt spent;

him

the little woman's weary tone.

I'll let you rest.