When His Eyes Opened By Simple Silence

Chapter 17

The car sped past Avery, leaving a trail of dust.

She lifted her head and saw the blurry tail lights of the Rolls-Roice in the darkness.

Was that Elliot’s car?

She wiped the tears off her face, calmed herself down, and walked toward the house.

She saw the car parked in the courtyard when she arrived.

She waited outside in hopes of going in after Elliot had gone to his room.

Her eyes stung. She looked up at the stars shining brightly in the night sky.

It was a beautiful spring night.

Before she knew it, she had been standing outside for an hour.

The driver had already moved the car into the garage.

The lights in the living room were still on, but there was nobody in sight.

Avery felt normal, so she walked slowly into the house.

On the veranda on the second floor, Elliot, dressed in a grey robe, was sitting in his wheelchair. The last dregs of wine sat at the bottom of his wine glass.

He had watched Avery the entire hour that she had stood outside in the cold.

He could not figure out the thoughts that would lead her to spend an entire hour out in the cold. She was so still that she could have easily blended in with the trees that stood next to her.

Elliot had met countless intelligent minds in his lifetime because they were the only people worthy enough to stand by his side.

However, Avery was an exception.

He did not consider her bright because she had provoked him despite knowing what kind of man he was.

She was an extremely foolish woman.

Seeing her miserable, however, affected his mood in a peculiar way.

It was a feeling that he had never felt before.

……

wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by the time

thick blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in it, and fell into a deep

of the chill from the night

Avery woke up the next morning, aside from feeling a little

into clean

followed the smell of food to the dining room, and

he had breakfast?”

hasn’t

of milk and a piece of toast,

eating in under five

afraid of

want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin

fine after spending a little more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will

have something to do on campus today, so I won’t be having dinner

the driver to take you there,” Mrs. Cooper said.

said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take a cab. He can

for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take you,”

could not

turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll find my own

young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder,

to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the

Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t

and said, “Is it because of your family? I heard about

“Actually, I never really wanted

thinking of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?”

Avery was taken aback.

mother of what

classmates only knew that she was dating someone but had no idea who he

then took a deep breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy

said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson

off depending on myself

love-struck before summer

shook her head and said, “I just hope I can take

at top of the class

flushed at

in the evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They had

campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked by

the Mr. Portia who dropped you off this morning? Is he here to pick you

remembered the