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 got to her

blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in it, and fell into a deep

of the

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

into clean

dining room, and Mrs. Cooper immediately

he had breakfast?” Avery

hasn’t come

milk and a piece of toast, then began to wolf

eating

afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs.

to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and added, “Seeing him makes

little more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will

today, so I won’t

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

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

for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to

not

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

Avery, tapped her on the shoulder,

best friend Tammy Lynch

to you,” Avery said as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I can go to graduate school

in her tracks and said, “Is it because of

and said, “Actually, I never really

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

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother of what had happened with

that she was dating someone but had no idea who

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

about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it

off depending on myself than a man,”

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

“I just hope I can take

course! You’re the only double major I know who’s at top of the class in both majors. The

flushed at the

left the

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

who dropped you off this morning?

remembered the