Time Heals All Wounds By Oliver Thomas 26

Time Heals All Wounds By Oliver Thomas 26 Summary

 

The narrator returns to her dorm utterly exhausted, overwhelmed by emotions linked to Tanner. Sleep eludes her as memories flood her mind, especially a tender moment from when they were five years old. At a family barbecue, after being hurt by a cruel comment, young Tanner comforted her with a hug and a playful kiss, promising his loyalty and affection. Their childhood friendship blossomed into a deep, inseparable bond filled with shared secrets and teasing affection.

 

However, everything changes in sophomore year with the arrival of Ayla, a rebellious girl who contrasts sharply with the narrator. Tanner quickly gravitates toward Ayla, making excuses for her rough behavior and claiming they share a brokenness that she can’t understand. Their relationship grows intense, involving risky activities that the narrator is too cautious to join. Tanner even starts including Ayla in their study sessions, sidelining the narrator and making her feel increasingly excluded.

 

The narrator’s frustration and hurt build as every attempt to spend time with Tanner is interrupted by Ayla’s presence. When she confronts Tanner about his choices, he dismisses her feelings, insisting he’s protecting her. Despite his teasing, the narrator’s pain remains unseen by others. The situation reaches a breaking point when Tanner and Ayla go night riding without answering calls, leading the narrator to panic after seeing a crash online.

 

In a frantic rush to find them, the narrator injures herself but finally sees Tanner holding Ayla, who is trembling in his arms. This moment of vulnerability and betrayal shatters the narrator’s heart, and she realizes she can no longer continue in the relationship. The chapter ends with her decision to be done, marking a painful turning point in her story.

 

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Chapter 4

I barely made it back to my dorm before collapsing face-first onto my comforter, utterly drained by the weight of my emotions. The exhaustion wasn’t just physical—it was the kind that seeps into your bones and leaves you hollow.

Sleep didn’t come easy that night. Instead, my mind was a restless storm of fragmented dreams, all revolving around Tanner.

I was five years old. At a family barbecue, someone reached over and patted my head, saying, “Look at this little muffin—so round and sweet!” The words stung, and tears welled up uncontrollably as I sat at the picnic table.

Without hesitation, Tanner jumped down from his seat, ran over, and wrapped his tiny arms around me. “Don’t listen to them, Addie. You’re the coolest. I like you the most,” he whispered, his voice full of earnest innocence.

Then, with a mischievous grin, he planted a loud, silly kiss on my cheek.

The adults around us chuckled softly, but I just stared at him, tears still streaming down my face, gradually calming as his warmth settled around me.

From those awkward playground promises to the trembling first sparks of young love, Tanner and I had practically grown up side by side, inseparable in every sense.

Years slipped by like that, effortless and full of shared secrets.

He used to tease me, “Crybaby Addie—who else would put up with you but me?”

And I believed him wholeheartedly. I truly thought he’d never leave.

Then sophomore year arrived. And with it, Ayla.

She was everything I wasn’t—the kind of girl parents warned their kids about.

Wild hair that defied any comb, a sharp attitude that cut through the air, vaping in the school parking lot, and always talking about ditching town after graduation.

Almost immediately, Tanner began making excuses for her.

“She acts tough, but she’s hurting inside. Her family’s a mess. Her dad’s a real piece of work,” he’d say, looking at me like I just couldn’t understand.

“We get each other. We’re the same kind of broken,” he’d add, his eyes full of a secret that shut me out.

They became inseparable.

Motorcycle rides, skate parks, cliff jumping—things I was “too careful” to try.

He even started bringing Ayla along to our study sessions. “She just needs help catching up,” he’d explain.

Every date I planned was interrupted by a text from her.

Finally, I snapped. “Why do you always choose her over me?”

He looked annoyed, brushing me off. “You wouldn’t even like what we do, Addie. It’s not your vibe. I’m protecting you.”

Eventually, when I cried about it, he’d sigh as if I was being overly dramatic.

He’d stay out all night with Ayla, only to come back the next afternoon with cold fries or a squashed cupcake.

“You done being mad yet, crybaby?” he’d tease, but the hurt beneath my anger was invisible to everyone.

No one knew the real reason I ended things wasn’t because of some stupid drink.

It was the second night of pre-season. Everyone was exhausted and asleep.

Tanner snuck out with Ayla to go night riding and didn’t answer his phone once.

We’d just argued, so I called him over and over. No response.

Then I saw a TikTok clip of a bike crash near the interstate. My heart plummeted.

Without thinking, I threw on pajamas and flip-flops, jumped in my car, and sped out there.

I was so frantic I didn’t even park right—just stumbled out and fell hard onto the pavement.

My knees and hands scraped raw, burning with pain.

When I finally looked up, I saw him.

Tanner was holding Ayla, his arms wrapped tight around her as she trembled in his embrace.

And in that moment, something inside me shattered completely.

I was done.

Conclusion

 

The chapter closes on a powerful note of heartbreak and awakening, capturing the painful evolution of Addie’s relationship with Tanner. From the innocent comfort of childhood to the complicated entanglements of adolescence, the emotional journey reveals the deep wounds that can form when trust is broken and love becomes overshadowed by distance and misunderstanding. Addie’s raw vulnerability, her desperate attempts to hold on, and the ultimate moment of shattering clarity resonate with the universal ache of realizing that some bonds, no matter how cherished, may not withstand the tides of change.

 

Through the vivid memories and the stark contrast between past warmth and present coldness, the chapter explores themes of loyalty, loss, and the bittersweet process of letting go. Addie’s story reminds us that healing often begins with acknowledging pain and embracing the strength it takes to walk away when love no longer feels safe or true. It is a poignant reflection on the fragility of youth and the resilience that grows from heartbreak.

 

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

 

Next chapter promises to delve deeper into the raw aftermath of Addie’s heartbreaking discovery, exploring how she grapples with the shattering of her long-held beliefs about Tanner. The emotional weight she carries will be palpable as she confronts the stark reality of their drifting apart, and the complex feelings of betrayal, loss, and confusion that come with it. This chapter will test her resilience and perhaps force her to reevaluate what she truly wants and needs from those closest to her.

 

Meanwhile, Tanner’s growing distance and his bond with Ayla will continue to cast a shadow over their once unbreakable friendship, raising questions about loyalty and change. The tension between past and present will simmer, hinting at unresolved emotions and difficult choices ahead. Readers can expect moments charged with vulnerability and the quiet struggle of moving on when the heart still clings to what was.