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

wrapped herself in it, and fell into a

sweated all night, ridding herself of

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

a shower, changed into clean clothes, and went

to the dining

had breakfast?” Avery

hasn’t

of milk and a piece of toast, then began to

was done eating in

that afraid of

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

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

have something to do on campus today, so I won’t

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

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

for the odd jobs. I’ll get

could not win against

had arrived on campus, Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you.

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

did not expect to bump in her best friend

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

because of your family? I

a smile and said, “Actually, I never really wanted to go to

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

Avery was taken aback.

her mother

that she was dating someone but had no idea

feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man in the world, but he was nothing but

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

better off depending on myself than a man,” Avery

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

just hope I can

of the class in both

flushed

left the

they arrived at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed

you off this morning? Is he here to

remembered the