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.

……

but Avery’s head felt heavy by

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

sweated all night, ridding herself of the chill from the night

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

a shower, changed into clean

to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper immediately served her

had breakfast?”

hasn’t

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

done eating in under five

of

don’t want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and added, “Seeing him makes me

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

do on campus today, so I

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

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

at home. One for Master Elliot and one for the odd

could not

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

off, a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her

did not expect to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the

they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I can go to graduate school

“Is it because of your family?

and said, “Actually, I never

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

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother of what had

that she was dating someone

a deep breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy

when she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of

on myself than a man,” Avery

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

“I just hope I can take care of myself after

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

cheeks flushed at the

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

instantly pointed

Portia who dropped you off this morning?

still remembered