Time Heals All Wounds By Oliver Thomas 1

Time Heals All Wounds By Oliver Thomas 1 Summary

 

Before his death, Josephine Caldwell’s father entrusted his longtime friend’s daughter, Elara Whitaker, to their family’s care. Elara was lively and outgoing, a stark contrast to Josephine’s quiet and studious nature. While Josephine’s brothers, Connor and Jullan, doted on Elara and introduced her to the city’s trendiest spots, Josephine’s boyfriend, Sebastian Vale, found Elara clingy and princess-like, though he secretly admired her during club meetings.

 

The tension between Josephine and Sebastian reached a breaking point at the school anniversary gala. Sebastian abandoned their practiced piano duet to perform a four-hand piece with Elara, replacing Josephine’s name on the program. When Josephine confronted him, she declared their relationship over, despite Elara’s tearful apologies. The audience remained oblivious to the quiet drama as Josephine left the stage and later sent Sebastian a final breakup message.

 

At home, Josephine found her family watching the gala’s live stream, praising Elara’s flawless performance with Sebastian. Her father coldly questioned why she hadn’t returned with Sebastian, prompting Josephine to announce their breakup. The room fell silent, but Elara’s guilt and her father’s harsh words only deepened the divide. Josephine stood firm, recalling her late mother’s lesson never to let anyone belittle her.

 

Feeling unappreciated and misunderstood, Josephine packed her suitcase and prepared to leave. Her brothers challenged her decisions, urging her to apologize and accept Elara’s presence, but Josephine refused to be the scapegoat. As she opened the door to leave, her father threatened never to let her return if she walked out. Undeterred, Josephine vanished into the night, determined not to return broken or desperate as her family expected.

 

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Chapter 1

Before his passing, my father’s longtime friend entrusted his daughter, Elara Whitaker, to our care.

Elara was everything I was not—vivacious, outgoing, and effortlessly charming.

As for me, Josephine Caldwell, I was the quiet, studious type, devoted to my grades and exams.

Dad treated Elara like she was his own flesh and blood. My brothers, Connor and Jullan, took her all over the city, showing her the trendiest spots perfect for Instagram, and showered her with the latest gadgets and tech toys.

Even Sebastian Vale, my boyfriend and the school’s golden boy, grumbled that she was “too clingy” or acted like a princess far too often.

But during every club meeting, I caught him stealing glances at her.

Then came the school’s anniversary gala.

He ditched the duet we had practiced tirelessly for weeks and swapped it out for some elaborate four-hand piano piece—with Elara.

I stared down at the program clutched in my hands. My name had been crossed out with thick, black ink.

I finally said, “We’re done.”

Sebastian’s hand froze mid-air, shock evident on his face. Before he could respond, Elara—standing right behind him—burst into tears.

She wore a white chiffon dress, the exact same style I had prepared for the performance.

“Josephine, please don’t blame Sebastian. It’s my fault… I just really wanted to perform at the gala, and he felt sorry for me, so he—”

I didn’t even glance at her. My eyes remained fixed on Sebastian.

“I said, we’re done.”

His jaw clenched, irritation flashing across his features.

“Josephine, seriously? You’re going to make a big deal out of one damn song?”

“Elara just arrived. It’s her first school event. I’m her senior—what’s the problem?”

“You’re already boring most of the time. When did you get so petty?”

I stared at him a moment longer, then turned and walked off the stage.

The auditorium buzzed with noise, but no one seemed to notice the quiet drama unfolding in the corner.

I tossed the defaced program into the trash and left the building, pulling my phone out to send him one last message.

[I’m not asking. I’m telling you. We’re done.]

When I got home, the living room was brightly lit.

Dad, Connor, Jullan, and Elara were all gathered around the TV, watching the gala’s live stream. On screen: Sebastian and Elara, playing their stupid piano duet.

The melody filled the room. They looked flawless together.

“Oh my God, Elara, you’re so talented! That was incredible!” Connor cheered, as if she’d just won a Grammy.

“Yeah, way better than some people who bury themselves in textbooks all day,” Jullan muttered, shooting me a pointed look.

Dad’s eyes shifted from the screen to me, cold and calculating.

“Why didn’t you come back with Sebastian?”

I kicked off my shoes, my voice flat and emotionless.

We broke up.

The room fell deadly silent.

Elara was the first to react, springing up with tears streaming down her face as she rushed toward me.

“Josephine, I’m so sorry! This is all my fault! Please don’t break up with Sebastian—I’ll go explain everything to him right now!”

Dad’s face darkened. He slammed his cane against the floor.

“This is ridiculous! Josephine, you’re not a child anymore. Stop being so dramatic!”

“Elara is your sister. Sebastian was just being kind to her. And instead of handling it maturely, you throw a tantrum and break up with him? Where are your manners?”

I looked up at him, my voice steady and clear.

“My manners? Mom taught me those before she died. And the first lesson she gave me was to never let anyone make me feel small.”

I turned and headed upstairs, pulling out my suitcase.

A few minutes later, Connor appeared in my doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed.

“What’s this, Josephine? Running away from home now? Do you think you’re five years old?”

I folded a few shirts and packed them without looking at him.

“Just go downstairs, apologize to Dad, and we’ll forget this whole thing happened.”

“Elara’s a guest. She’s Dad’s old friend’s daughter. We’re supposed to treat her well. Why can’t you just deal with it?”

“I’m not the problem.”

“You guys are.”

Connor’s expression hardened.

I grabbed my suitcase and walked past him.

Downstairs, Jullan blocked my path.

“Josephine, what the hell is wrong with you? You’re really going to make this ugly?”

I glanced at him, then at Dad sitting on the couch with a scowl, and Elara beside him, quietly crying.

“I’m tired. I’m done pretending to be the understanding, selfless, perfect daughter and sister.”

“So yeah. Leave me the hell alone.”

I shoved past Jullan and opened the front door.

Behind me, Dad’s voice exploded.

“If you walk out that door, don’t you dare come back!”

I didn’t stop. I vanished into the night.

They all thought I was just throwing a fit.

That I’d come crawling back in a few days—broke, homeless, desperate.

Too bad for them.

They were dead wrong.

Conclusion

 

The chapter closes on Josephine’s painful yet empowering decision to break free from the suffocating expectations of her family and the shadow cast by Elara. Her quiet strength shines through as she refuses to be diminished or sidelined, standing firm in her choice to end a relationship and a chapter of her life that no longer serves her. The tension between duty and self-respect, love and betrayal, echoes deeply in her resolve to carve out her own path, even if it means walking away alone.

 

This emotional crossroads highlights the complex dynamics of family loyalty, jealousy, and the struggle for identity. Josephine’s departure is not just a physical act but a symbolic reclaiming of her voice and worth. Though the pain lingers, there is a quiet hope in her defiance—a promise that healing and self-discovery await beyond the shadows of misunderstanding and hurt.

 

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

 

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into Josephine’s struggle as she steps away from the suffocating expectations of her family and the shadow of Elara’s presence. With her heart heavy and her resolve tested, Josephine’s journey toward self-discovery will be fraught with emotional turmoil and the difficult choices that come with standing up for oneself. The tension between loyalty and independence will intensify, revealing cracks in the relationships she once thought unbreakable.

 

Meanwhile, the dynamics within the household are bound to shift in Josephine’s absence, stirring conflicts and forcing each character to confront their own feelings and motivations. As Josephine carves out a new path, readers can anticipate moments of vulnerability, unexpected alliances, and the simmering question of whether forgiveness and understanding can ever bridge the divide that has formed. The emotional stakes are higher than ever, and every decision will ripple through their intertwined lives in ways no one could have predicted.