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

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

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

aside from feeling a little sticky, she was in relatively

a shower, changed into clean

food to the dining room, and

had

Elliot hasn’t come down

glass of milk and a piece of toast, then began

done eating

you that afraid of

to see him,” Avery said, then lifted

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

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

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

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

for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other

not win against

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

Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said, “Avery! Who was that

not expect to bump in her best friend

cutie. It’s ‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I can go to graduate school with

in her tracks and said, “Is it because of your family? I heard about your dad. I’m so

and said, “Actually, I

right?” Tammy

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother of what

classmates only knew that she was dating someone

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

her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re

off depending on myself than a man,”

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

“I just hope I can take care

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

cheeks flushed at

in the evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They had planned to

campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed

Portia who dropped you off this morning?

still remembered the