You've Reached Sam

Julie has a dream about her and Sam in their future apartment. Sam kisses her and asks for a break, though they just started unpacking. They plan their interior design and lifestyle there, but Sam kisses her and says, “You know, Jules, you can’t always plan out every detail though. There will always be things we can’t prepare for. [...] You have to live in the moment sometimes. Let life surprise you” (192). The scene slowly disappears, the boxes, the floors, then Sam.

Julie reflects that she used to live inside her daydreams, when her plans seemed stable and she could imagine 10 years in the future, graduated as a successful writer, living in the city with Sam, her husband. But losing Sam and her college rejection changed everything. She wonders how many calls remain and the purpose of them: “Why were we given this second chance? Just to say good-bye?” (195). Julie fears it will be like losing Sam twice.

On their previous call, Sam couldn’t promise they’d be together again someday. He didn’t have answers about the afterlife, but Sam knew Julie would have new beginnings. He told her not to worry about his next phase.

Julie and her friends head to Seattle for a long weekend.