As time ticks away and minutes turn to hours and hours turn to days, history is made before our very own eyes. What you did this morning is now behind you. What you'll say tomorrow will travel from the future to the past. Why is it that our minds can remember the past but are unable to let go? Can you really ever forgive if you are unable to forget?

In Monday night's episode of "One Tree Hill," Nathan and Haley Scott continued to use resourceful outlets to express their pent up marital emotions. In turn, the family of three was able to enjoy a more-or-less drama free 5th birthday party for Jamie. Has Haley truly forgiven Nathan for his past? Is the Scott family finally a new team? While they seem to be on the right track toward happiness, is the past ever really forgotten? Maybe mistakes that derail a marriage and bruise the once instilled trust may linger in one's mind like a footprint in cement. The reality of it is still there - permanent and forever.

Lindsey still maintains a professional attitude with her ex-fiancé Lucas Scott only weeks after the wedding breakdown. While some say we essentially create our own histories, does that mean we write our own futures? Does the Comet in Lucas' story foreshadow a future of love between Peyton and Lucas that hasn't been written yet? Bottom line, Peyton will forever be an important part of Lucas' past. Will Lindsey ever be able to forgive and forget only to continue the chapter she once stated she and Lucas were creating?

Dan Scott moved on from a lifestyle behind bars, determined to rekindle any lost hope with family and friends. With Dan back in the Tree Hill picture, his past is bound to affect everyone that knows him. As his heart condition rises back on the forefront, issues that once seemed buried are now resurfacing. How can anyone forget the past if the past always comes back to haunt you?

In some cases, can the past prove bigger than reality? If the mind deters a person from moving on, the possibility of forgiveness may be small. How much is forgiveness and forgetting interchangeable? Next week's episode challenges the intangible bond between trust and family. Can a community who's been without Dan Scott, a father, an uncle, a mayor, hold together strong enough in the wake of an impending heart transplant? Stay tuned to find out!

Story by Kathryn Sparks
Starpulse contributing writer