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 into

herself of

feeling a little sticky, she was

a shower, changed into clean

dining room, and Mrs.

he had

hasn’t come down

picked up her glass of milk and a piece of toast,

done eating in under five

you that afraid of

see him,” Avery said, then

after spending a little more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper.

campus today, so

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

fine. I’ll just take a

for the odd jobs. I’ll get

could not

on campus, Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll

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

in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the campus

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

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

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

right?” Tammy said.

Avery was taken aback.

only told her mother

was dating

“Do you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the

around Avery’s waist when she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson learned. You’ll definitely meet

better off depending on myself than a man,”

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

said, “I just hope I can take

who’s at top of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit

flushed

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

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

who dropped you off this morning? Is he here

still remembered