You've Reached Sam (You've Reached Sam, #1)

by Dustin Thao

“Don’t worry,” Sam says. “I can make you another one. I can make you a thousand more.”

“Do you want me to take you home?” Sam asks eventually. “No.” “So where do you want to go?” “Anywhere else.”

“Julie … if I could stay with you, I’d never leave.” “But you did leave.” “I know … I’m sorry.”

“You never said good-bye…” “That’s because I never thought I had to…”

a wind sweeps in from behind us, as if it’s come to take...

It isn’t supposed to end ...

If the ending is this painful, I don’t know if this was worth it all.

“Mom, listen, I’m fine.” “But Julie—” “Please.” “Are you sure?” “I promise I am, okay? You don’t have to call anyone.” I don’t want her to worry about me. I can deal with this on my own.

hits the ground with a clatter like change and bones.

The sleeve of his jacket hangs limply over the side of the box like the arm of a ghost.

As much as I tell myself I like being alone, I feel a rush of relief to see a familiar face.

Why do I need to explain myself?

I clench my empty cup. “I told you, I don’t want to talk about this,” I say again.

“It only matters what Sam would say.” “Sam is dead.”

Her eyes search mine for signs of guilt or regret, as if she’s waiting for me to somehow amend my words, but all I have to say is, “He’s dead, Mika,

“Don’t tell me what I believe,”

I understand you have to know the rules before you break them,

I feel like my life didn’t start until I met you,

I can’t wait to move on and make new memories with you. Just don’t forget the ones we made here.

Sam’s voice pulls me back. It’s the only thing holding me together.

“I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

“I wanted to give us a chance to say good-bye.”

“But I never wanted to say good-bye,”

another time. I promise.” He never kept that promise.

“Let us know if you need anything,” he whispers. “We’re always here for you.”

“Always.”

we have a Twitter now, by the way.” “Do people still use that?” “You’d be surprised.” “Interesting.”

Talk with the books for inspiration. They’re full of ideas.”

Mr. Lee is well versed in the world of literature and always finds beauty in my words.

He understands what it is I’m trying to say even when I’m not sure myself.

“We have too many voices inside our heads. You have to pick out the ones that mean something to you.

My heart is pounding as thoughts of what if flash through my head.

“I thought you were ignoring me.” “So you decided to show up and throw rocks at my window?” Oliver holds back a grin. “What can I say … I’m annoying.”

“Remind me, did you model back home in Thailand?” I ask. Jay angles his face toward the ceiling light, eyes smoldering. “Is it obvious?” “Your cheekbones.”

It was one of the things I loved most about him. I could never hide what I was feeling.

Must be really nice to have something to look forward to…”

I’m sorry you died.”

Somehow, he made it more than a mile down the road before collapsing. An officer said it was a testament to how strong he was. I think it was a testament to how much he wanted to live.

“Timeless.”

Maybe that’s what Mr. Lee meant when he said we have too many voices in our heads. I wish I could mute them all so I could find my own.

“Don’t do this.” “Do what?” “Hold on to us,” he says. “As if we still have forever.”