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.

……

head felt heavy by the time

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

of the chill

from feeling a little sticky, she was in

changed into

to the dining room, and Mrs.

he had breakfast?” Avery

Master Elliot hasn’t

up her glass of milk and a

eating

of him,

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

time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will you

on campus today, so I

I’ll go get the driver to take you there,” Mrs. Cooper said. She left, intending

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

for Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the

could not

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

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

in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be

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

of

a smile and said, “Actually, I

of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are you going to introduce me to

Avery was taken aback.

her mother of what had happened with

only knew that she was dating

Avery said. She then took a deep breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have

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

depending on myself than a man,”

“You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady

said, “I just hope I can take care of myself after

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

flushed at

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

arrived at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the

off this

still remembered the