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

the closet, wrapped herself in it,

of the chill from the night

woke up the next morning, aside from feeling a little sticky, she was

shower, changed into clean clothes, and went

smell of food to the dining room, and

had

Elliot hasn’t come down

glass of milk and a

was done eating

of him, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper

not afraid… I just don’t want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and added, “Seeing

together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will you

I have something to do on campus today,

Cooper said. She left, intending

stopped her and said, “It’s fine. I’ll

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

could not win

“Thank you. You

driver drove off, a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said, “Avery! Who

not expect to bump in her best friend

into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t

“Is it because of your family? I heard about your dad. I’m

a smile and said, “Actually, I

thinking of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother

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

deep 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 he

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

off depending on myself than a man,”

love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady you’ve

and said, “I just hope I can

of the class in both majors. The

flushed at

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

gates, Tammy instantly pointed

who dropped you off this morning? Is he here to pick

still remembered