Time Heals All Wounds By Oliver Thomas 14

Time Heals All Wounds By Oliver Thomas 14 Summary

 

In this chapter, the narrator, Rachel, has a tense phone conversation with Aaron, who is trying to convince her to handle a situation herself while he focuses on taking care of Sophia, a child who has been upset and crying all night. Aaron’s tone is impatient and somewhat smug, which frustrates Rachel. Despite her irritation, she remains composed and ends the call, only to receive another call from Aaron shortly after.

 

During the second call, Aaron’s tone softens as he mentions Sophia’s concern over Rachel’s canceled ticket and her desire to bring Rachel a gift. However, Rachel suspects there’s more to the story. Aaron quickly shifts the conversation and asks Rachel to return home a few days early to save library seats for him and Sophia so they can study together after the break. This request stings Rachel, recalling how Aaron had previously dismissed her suggestion to study together.

 

Rachel feels a mix of bitterness and resignation but chooses not to confront Aaron directly. She agrees to his request in a low voice, trying to suppress her feelings of frustration and nausea. Aaron responds enthusiastically, expressing gratitude and even suggesting specific seating preferences for the library spots. He ends the call abruptly, leaving Rachel alone with the heavy weight of the situation.

 

Throughout the chapter, the tension between Rachel and Aaron is palpable, marked by underlying conflicts and unspoken emotions. Rachel’s internal struggle and Aaron’s shifting tones reveal a complicated dynamic, with Rachel feeling undervalued and manipulated, while Aaron appears to be managing his own pressures involving Sophia. The chapter ends with Rachel quietly accepting the burden Aaron places on her, highlighting her conflicted state.

 

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Chapter 2

My? The word barely escaped my lips before a cold, bitter smile threatened to surface.

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

I inhaled deeply, steadying my voice so it wouldn’t betray my frustration.

“I mean, I’ll handle it myself. You just focus on taking care of your Sophia.”

Aaron’s tone shifted immediately, as if sensing I was about to back down. Now, he sounded almost smug, satisfied with himself.

“There’s my good girl. Quit being so silly.”

“So, go ahead and find that ticket, alright? Standing room won’t kill you—stop acting like such a drama queen.”

I could hear the impatience dripping from his voice.

“I need to get Sophia some food. She cried all night; her eyes are completely swollen.”

“Okay,” he replied, dismissive.

I didn’t want to say anything else.

“Alright then, I’m hanging up. Talk later.”

He ended the call abruptly, and I was left staring at the silent phone.

Trying to calm myself, I began packing my things for the Thanksgiving break. The room was quiet except for the soft rustling of clothes and the occasional beep of my suitcase zipper.

Just as I finished closing my small suitcase, my phone buzzed again.

Aaron. Again.

I raised an eyebrow but answered without a word.

“Rachel.”

His voice was noticeably more relaxed this time.

“What are you up to? Any luck finding tickets yet?”

“I haven’t checked,” I said curtly.

There was a brief pause. My cold tone must have caught him off guard.

But he recovered quickly and continued, “Oh, no big deal, there’s plenty of time. So, um… Sophia woke up for a bit, and when she heard your ticket got canceled, she felt really bad about it. She wants to bring you a gift from home to say thanks…”

I stayed silent, waiting for the real reason behind his words.

There was no way Sophia was being that thoughtful on her own.

Sure enough, Aaron quickly changed the subject.

“Actually, um, Rachel, there’s one more thing…”

“You know how crazy the library gets after breaks—every good study spot gets taken immediately. And since you’ll probably… you know, get home and not have much going on…”

He stumbled over his words nervously.

“Maybe… could you come back a couple of days early and save some seats for Sophia and me? We’re planning to study together when we get back…”

I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

At the start of freshman year, I had shown up at Aaron’s dorm with a fresh notebook and his favorite coffee.

“I heard the window seats on the library’s top floor have this amazing view of the campus—especially pretty in the fall.”

I looked up at him with bright, hopeful eyes.

“Want to go claim a spot tomorrow and study together?”

Aaron had frowned and pushed my coffee away.

“Come on, Rachel. The library’s so far—it’s like a twenty-minute walk. I’d rather just study in my dorm.”

And now, here he was, asking me—the person whose ticket had been stolen, who might have to stand for eight hours on a crowded train—to come back early and save library seats for him and Sophia?

My silence seemed to convince Aaron I was hesitating or maybe even agreeing.

“See, this way you won’t be bored sitting at home doing nothing, and you’re helping us out—total win-win, right?”

“Sophia’s going to be so grateful when she finds out. If she’s in a better headspace, she’ll totally ace her next exams.”

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the rising nausea in my throat.

If I exploded at him now, I’d miss out on whatever amazing performance they had planned next.

So, deliberately lowering my voice, I said, “…Fine. Got it. You guys… have fun.”

Hearing me cave again, Aaron’s tone brightened completely, as if he’d just solved some major problem.

“Now that’s more like it! Rachel, you’re seriously the best—so understanding.”

“Alright, we’re all set! I’m counting on you for those seats. Try to get the ones by the windows with good airflow—Sophia likes those.”

“When I get back, I’ll take you to that restaurant you’ve been wanting to try.”

He even had the nerve to specify seating preferences.

“Mm,” I muttered, noncommittal.

“Sweet, gotta go—Sophia’s calling me for something.”

He hung up so quickly it was almost like he couldn’t wait to escape the conversation.

I stared at the phone for a moment, the weight of it all settling heavily on my chest.

Conclusion

 

The chapter closes on a note of quiet resignation, capturing the complex emotions swirling beneath the surface. Rachel’s struggle to maintain composure amid Aaron’s demands and subtle manipulations reveals the tension between her desire to care for Sophia and the frustration of being sidelined. The emotional distance between them is palpable, yet there remains a faint glimmer of connection, hinting at the unspoken bonds that still tie them together despite the strain.

 

Through their conversation, themes of sacrifice, expectation, and unbalanced give-and-take come to the forefront. Rachel’s reluctant agreement to return early and save seats symbolizes her ongoing willingness to support those she cares about, even when it costs her personally. The chapter gently underscores the bittersweet nature of relationships where love and obligation intertwine, leaving readers with a deep sense of empathy for Rachel’s quiet endurance and the complicated dynamics at play.

 

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

 

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled dynamics between Rachel, Aaron, and Sophia, as the uneasy truce they’ve struck begins to reveal cracks beneath the surface. Rachel’s reluctant agreement to return early to save seats at the library hints at an underlying tension that’s far from resolved. Will this act of cooperation bring them closer, or will it only serve to highlight the growing divide and unspoken resentments simmering just beneath the polite exchanges?

 

Emotions are poised to run high as Rachel grapples with her feelings of frustration and betrayal, while Aaron’s motivations remain murky—does his sudden warmth mask guilt, manipulation, or genuine regret? Sophia’s role, too, is shrouded in ambiguity, leaving readers wondering how her mood and actions will influence the fragile balance between the three. As the Thanksgiving break approaches, anticipation builds around how these intertwined relationships will evolve, setting the stage for moments of confrontation, vulnerability, and perhaps unexpected revelations.