Time does not necessarily heal all wounds
Retribution“Time does not necessarily heal all wounds” expresses the passage’s central recognition about grief: the loss of Natalie remains active in the life of the man remembering her, even years after her death. Rather than presenting time as a cure, the phrase describes pain that can recede and then return, shaping how he approaches intimacy with C.J.
Meaning and Context
The expression follows the man’s recollection of Natalie, his former fiancée and the only other woman for whom he had felt a comparable need for closeness. Her death had brought overwhelming grief. Through that loss, he came to understand the profound pain relatives of people killed in his cases described to him: grief could reach into ordinary activities and relationships, touching a person’s sense of self. The phrase crystallizes that understanding as a hard-won conclusion, not a general promise of consolation.
Memory and Recurrence
His memories of Natalie had once made everyday surroundings painful. Photographs, a shared end table, or a favorite mug could recall their life together, and the daily anguish continued until it numbed him. He responded by vowing not to become so close to another woman and putting the memories away, but familiar moments could bring them back. In his recollection, Natalie’s bright face and smile give way to the image of her after death, showing how remembrance can carry both affection and the shock of loss.
Contrast with C.J.
The memory surfaces as the man lies beside C.J., whose presence awakens his desire to know her more fully despite his judgment that he should resist becoming attached. The scene places present closeness beside an earlier bereavement: his wish to be near C.J. echoes the intimacy he once shared with Natalie, while the memory of losing Natalie makes that renewed attachment frightening. The expression therefore connects grief not only to the past but also to the risk of future love.
