A Graduation Gift

Cassandra stood at the side of the road, holding the phone in her hand and dumbfounded. She didn't know what had just happened.

She heard something loud. Where could it have come from?

Suddenly, she had a good guess on what had happened so she turned around and ran back to the Garden Villa immediately.

The wind blew across her face as she breathed heavily and quickened her pace.

Her heart was beating rapidly and she could only see darkness but she held on to the one person who was keeping her going.

It was Rufus! Rufus!

Rufus could feel his body aching all over when the terrible car accident happened. But nothing could compare to the ache his heart was nursing.

"Cassandra..."

Rufus murmured the little woman's name. A glimpse of a familiar figure was suddenly running towards him.

Was it Cassandra? Or an illusion?

Rufus couldn't tell who the figure was because he couldn't even open his eyes. Before he knew it, he had already fainted.

Cassandra saw Rufus's Range Rover crash into a wall from a distance—the front of the car looked quite damaged.

Her chest tightened at what she'd seen; her heart began to beat so fast that she felt it would jump out of her chest anytime soon.

She ran and ran until she'd closed the distance between them.

When she arrived at the car, she saw Rufus slumping over the wheel. His legs were stuck inside the car and he looked terrible. It was hard to digest the entire scene.

Cassandra felt as if someone had grabbed her heart and crushed it—she couldn't breathe.

She tried to ram the door open but it was locked and she couldn't break it from the outside.

She then tried to smack the window hoping that Rufus would wake up to the noise but he didn't even flinch. He wasn't moving at all. Did he just faint or was he...dead already?

Cassandra was crying and shrieking, "Rufus, wake up! Don't leave me! Rufus!"

What Rufus had said before came true.

only way he'd let Cassandra leave him was if

won't leave you anymore, Rufus! Don't do this, Rufus! Wake up!' Cassandra shouted

continued to look for a way to break inside the car. However, they were in a deserted area and no one was

She dialed Rufus's number and hoped that

Rufus just lay there,

up! Please!

was starting to get worried as Rufus had already stayed in an oxygen-deprived space for

another idea—she used her keys to

trying. Eventually, the window started to show some

hit the window through gritted teeth. When enough cracks had shown, she took a deep breath and landed a clenched fist through the

inside—all the while, her hand was shivering. She reached inside the car and grabbed Rufus's body in an attempt to drag him

short and slim—she wasn't strong enough

Cassandra from trying anyway—this was an emergency after all. She gathered all her energy

and started to resuscitate him—she tried pumping his chest hard and fast with her

wished in her heart that Rufus would open his eyes to look at her. However, Rufus

and into her mouth; she fought through the bitter taste in

hope. She was crying, scared and

those things to you, I'm so sorry! Open your eyes and look at me! I won't leave you

her heart that was

never have attempted to break up with him. She thought she was doing the right thing. She'd been thinking

Stay with me,

bawled as she continued to breathe life back into

Rufus's chest heaved. Cassandra

to pump his chest and blow air

Everything about him felt stuck and frozen as if he was

couldn't see anything in the darkness but he could hear a familiar voice. Cassandra! It was Cassandra's voice! She was here and she

his arms. He wanted to tell her, 'Cassandra,

the energy to do so as he couldn't

and someone started resuscitating him. Someone was pumping his chest and blowing air into his mouth. Rufus could tell

Cassandra? Are you saving me?' Rufus thought to

the bitterness of the tears that ran in Cassandra's mouth. He couldn't

loved her so much. He wanted to tell her that everything was

heart beat quickened when he

scared, darling. I'll protect you,

more—he wanted to speak to her, feel her, and hold