EUPHORIA

Chapter 8

_A Blast from the Past_

Samantha's phone chimed, piercing through the silence of her room. She groggily reached for it, rubbing her eyes. Sunday afternoon? She hadn't realized she'd slept that long.

As she scrolled through her messages, her eyes widened. Loads of texts from an unknown number. She hesitated, wondering who it could be. But before she could decide whether to respond, the number called.

"Hello?" she answered, her voice still husky from sleep.

"Sam! It's Jonathan! Long time no talk!"

Samantha's face lit up with a smile. "Jonathan! Oh my god, how are you?"

"I'm great, buddy! I'm in town for a bit and thought of you. How's life been treating you since college?"

Samantha laughed. "It's been a rollercoaster, but I'm surviving. How about you? What have you been up to?"

They spent the next few minutes catching up on each other's lives. Jonathan told her about his job, his travels, and his new hobbies. Samantha shared stories about her writing, her struggles, and her triumphs.

"I'm so glad we're catching up, Sam," Jonathan said. "I was thinking, since I'm in town, we could grab coffee or something later?"

Samantha's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't seen Jonathan in years, but their friendship had always been effortless. "That sounds amazing! I'd love to see you."

They planned a meet-up for later that afternoon, and Samantha hung up the phone with a renewed sense of excitement. Maybe this was exactly what she needed – a distraction from Matt and a chance to reconnect with an old friend.

As she got ready for their meet-up, Samantha couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for Jonathan's timing. Maybe this blast from the past was just what she needed to move forward.

later in the afternoon...

Samantha walked into the cozy coffee shop in her old neighborhood, scanning the room for a familiar face. She spotted Jonathan, looking just as charming as she remembered, and waved him over. As they hugged, Samantha felt a rush of nostalgia wash over her.

"It's so great to see you, Jonathan!" she exclaimed, taking in the sight of his bright smile and sparkling eyes.

Jonathan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You too, Sam! You look amazing. I love your new neighborhood – it's so vibrant and full of life."

Samantha beamed with pride. "I know, right? I absolutely love it here. There's always something going on, and the people are so friendly. And Liliana and I are still thick as thieves – we meet up all the time."

Jonathan's eyes lit up. "That's great to hear! I'm glad you two are still close. If it weren't for my business relocation,I wouldn't have left the States. I miss the energy of this place."

Samantha nodded understandingly. "I can imagine. But it's great that you're doing well. So, what's new with you? Any exciting developments in your love life?"

Jonathan chuckled wryly. "Unluckily, I'm still single. But I'm not giving up hope yet! I'm just focusing on my career for now and enjoying the freedom of being single."

Samantha laughed, remembering Liliana's advice. "I'm single too," she said, trying to sound casual. "But I'm not really thinking about dating right now. I'm just focusing on myself and my writing."

Jonathan's gaze lingered on her face for a couple of minutes, his expression unreadable. Then, he smiled and said, "Well, shall we head out for a walk before I head home? It's a beautiful day out."

As they strolled through the neighborhood, Samantha felt a sense of comfort with Jonathan that she hadn't experienced in a long time. They talked about everything and nothing, laughing and joking like they used to in college. Maybe, just maybe, this chance encounter was the start of something new and exciting.