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.

……

because of the cold wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by the

the closet, wrapped herself in

of the chill

woke up the next morning, aside from feeling a little

changed into clean clothes, and

the dining room, and

he had

Elliot hasn’t

this, Avery picked up her glass of milk and a piece of toast, then began to

done eating in under

you that afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper

just don’t want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin

together,” said Mrs.

I have something to do on campus today,

take you there,” Mrs. Cooper said. She left, intending to inform the driver of his

stopped her and said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take a cab. He

one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one

not win against

they had arrived on campus, Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll find my own way home

to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said,

best friend Tammy

not a cutie. It’s ‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I can go to graduate

of your family? I heard about

smile and said, “Actually, I never really wanted to go to

graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are you going to introduce

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother of what had happened with

that she was dating someone but

breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man in the world, but

her arm around Avery’s waist when she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson

myself than a man,”

need to go through some heartbreak to grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady you’ve

shook her head and said, “I just hope

know who’s at top of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit for someone

cheeks flushed at

Tammy left the campus together. They had planned to have dinner

the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the

you off this

still remembered