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.

……

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

blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in

all night, ridding herself of the chill from

feeling a little sticky, she was

took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and went

to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper

he had breakfast?”

hasn’t

of milk and a piece of

was done eating in under five

that afraid of

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

be fine after spending a little more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will you be coming home for

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

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

I’ll just take a cab. He

Elliot and one for the odd

could not win

driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back

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

her best friend Tammy Lynch

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

because of your family? I

I never really wanted to go

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

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother of what had happened

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

it feels like to have someone

eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think

myself than

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

head and said, “I just hope I can take

the class in both majors. The sky’s the

cheeks flushed at the

Tammy left the campus together. They had planned to

arrived at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked by

off this morning? Is he here to

remembered the