Time Heals All Wounds By Oliver Thomas 34 Summary
The narrator is convinced that Tanner might show up unexpectedly, as he often does, but prefers to avoid the drama. To keep some distance, they allow Tanner to follow them on Instagram but mute his notifications, choosing to focus on their own life instead. Over three days, the narrator fills their feed with food posts, trying to distract themselves from the tension.
Their mom quickly notices the food obsession and asks who the chef is, to which the narrator vaguely replies that it’s a guy from their flat named Tristan, an American they sometimes share meals with. One evening, after a disappointing experience with British cafeteria food, Tristan unexpectedly appears, makes pasta with intense focus, and the narrator watches while drinking tomato sauce straight from the jar.
Following that night, Tristan starts texting the narrator whenever he cooks, inviting them to eat together. When the mom inquires about Tristan, the narrator downplays the relationship as just “meal buddies,” which she accepts with some suspicion but no further questions.
Later, hoping Tristan can improve some ribs they bought, the narrator heads back to their building but is stopped in their tracks when they see Tanner leaning against a wall nearby, looking exhausted and tense, causing their heart to skip a beat.
Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below
I was absolutely convinced that Tanner might just show up without warning. It was the kind of thing he did—completely unpredictable and a little reckless.
But honestly, I didn’t want to deal with that drama. So, I let him follow me on Instagram but muted all his notifications. I figured I’d just carry on with my life, ignoring whatever chaos he might try to stir up.
For three whole days, I flooded my feed with nothing but food posts—pictures of meals, recipes, and snacks. It was like I was trying to distract myself with every bite.
My mom caught on pretty quickly and slid into my DMs with a curious message:
“Sweetie… who’s the chef???”
I played it cool and kept things vague:
“Just a guy from my flat. Also American. We sometimes share meals.”
One evening, after a particularly dismal experience with the British cafeteria food, I found myself slumped on the couch, making those pathetic hungry noises. That’s when Tristan appeared, hair all messy, looking utterly unimpressed.
Without saying a word, he marched straight to the kitchen and started making pasta with this fierce, almost angry focus. I watched him for a moment before grabbing the jar of tomato sauce and drinking it straight—no shame.
After that night, Tristan began texting me whenever he cooked:
“Pasta. 10 min. Don’t be late.”
When my mom asked who he was, I just told her:
“It’s Tristan Kelce. We’re just meal buddies.”
Her reply was a string of suspicious emojis, but she didn’t press further:
“Aww, sweetie.”
One afternoon after class, I picked up some ribs from Tesco, hoping Tristan would know how to turn them into something edible.
As I rounded the corner toward my building, I stopped dead in my tracks.
Leaning against the old brick wall, looking exhausted and tense, was Tanner. My heart skipped a beat.
Conclusion
The chapter delicately captures the tension between holding onto the past and cautiously stepping into new connections. Through the simple act of sharing meals, the protagonist finds a small but meaningful refuge in Tristan’s quiet support, offering a contrast to the unpredictable presence of Tanner. The muted notifications and the lighthearted exchanges about food reveal a subtle attempt to protect oneself while still allowing for moments of comfort and companionship.
Yet, the unresolved feelings linger palpably, embodied in that final, breath-catching encounter with Tanner. It’s a quiet reminder that healing is rarely linear, and the heart’s pull toward familiar chaos can be as strong as the desire for calm. This chapter beautifully explores the delicate balance between moving on and holding on, leaving us with a poignant sense of hope wrapped in vulnerability.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled emotions that Tanner’s sudden appearance will undoubtedly stir up. Will the protagonist be able to keep the carefully constructed distance, or will old feelings and unresolved tensions resurface in unexpected ways? The quiet moments of companionship with Tristan might soon be tested as the past and present collide, creating a delicate balance between comfort and chaos.
Meanwhile, the evolving relationship with Tristan, marked by shared meals and silent understanding, could face new challenges as emotions simmer beneath the surface. The subtle hints of connection and the protagonist’s guarded heart suggest that the coming chapter will explore not only external conflicts but also internal struggles. Readers can anticipate a mix of vulnerability, hesitation, and perhaps a few surprising revelations that will push the characters toward growth and change.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
