When His Eyes Opened

Mike buried his face in his hands and burst into tears.

“I regret it! Why did I say those cruel words to her last night?!”

Elliot’s eyes welled up in tears at the thought of what happened the night before.

“She was helpless and scared. Even if we couldn’t go save her right away, I shouldn’t have said that! She must have felt so hopeless after hearing what I said…” Mike was racked with guilt and could not control his emotions.

Elliot’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat and he said hoarsely, “Stop crying! Are you done cracking the system?”

Mike wiped his tears away, then glanced at the progress bar on his computer screen.

“Almost … It’ll be done before noon. My head hurts. What would I do if Avery’s really dead?”

Elliot did not have the courage to think of that possibility.

“How about you go home and take a shower?” Mike saw the stubble growing on Elliot’s chin and figured that he was probably hurting more than himself.

It was because Avery was still carrying his child.

a daze as if he

back and check on Shea and the kids,” Mike said in a louder

finally reacted and said,

with you? Avery’s definitely alive! She’s strong, and she

down on the table, then walked out of

located in the city

not to show off her wealth, but because

the neighborhood entrance. He called Mike, and Mike called

Hayden and Layla arrived at the entrance hand in

emotions turned complicated. If Avery was dead… Then, what

to raise them himself, but they might reject him

really sad, Hayden!” Layla said softly as she saw

thump wildly in his chest. Did Elliot look

seen Wesley’s horrible condition at the hospital yesterday, but Shea described it to them when she

had a nightmare that Avery

and the siblings ended up crying in each