When His Eyes Opened

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.

……

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

the closet, wrapped herself

all night, ridding herself of

up the next morning, aside from feeling a little

into clean clothes, and went

the dining room,

had breakfast?” Avery

Elliot hasn’t come down

her glass of milk and a piece of toast,

eating

you that afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs.

I just don’t want to see him,” Avery said,

little more time together,” said

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

take you there,” Mrs. Cooper said. She left,

fine. I’ll just take a cab. He can

Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs.

not win against

they had arrived on campus, Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head

woman ran up to Avery, tapped

her best friend Tammy Lynch to

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

stopped in her tracks and said, “Is it because of your family? I heard

said, “Actually, I never

thinking of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother of what had

that she was dating someone but had no idea

it feels like to have someone completely

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

myself than a man,” Avery

grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look

head and said, “I just hope

major I know who’s at top of the class in both majors. The sky’s the

cheeks flushed at

Tammy left the campus together. They had planned to

instantly pointed at the Portia parked by the

who dropped you off this morning? Is he

still remembered