24. Sam

SAM

March 2024

I stare into the camera for the last time. My camera guy, Luke, sits on one of the stools in my kitchen and I take a deep breath. Time to film my last video for YouTube.

"Hey fellow travelers," I start my rehearsed speech. "This video is going to be a little different than the videos in my past. You might have noticed that I've been posting less and less. And while I've loved my career here on YouTube and traveling the world, it's time to close this chapter on my life.

"I know not everyone is going to be happy with that decision, but it's the right one for me. Last year, I had back surgery and while I can still travel, the injury was a wakeup call to me. It's time for me to settle down and have a family instead of traveling all the time. Thanks for being here. Thanks for traveling with me. Thanks for watching my videos throughout the years. The videos won't be going anywhere, I just won't be posting anymore."

I stop, unsure of how to end my comments.

"Happy travels." I offer a wave and Luke turns the camera off.

"It's been a pleasure working for you man," he tells me as he gets things packed up.

"Likewise." I gave all of my employees fantastic recommendations and they were all able to find new positions, which makes me feel less guilty. They depended on me, but I'm quitting. It's weird, after years and years of sharing my life online, I'm going to be done. I know it is the right thing for me to do, but it's going to take some time to adjust to the new normal.

After Luke leaves, I check my phone. Every day, I seem to be waiting to hear from Annie, but she never texts and she never calls. I want to worry about how she's doing, but I also am trusting that she's doing what she needs to so that she and I can actually be together. But more than the worry, I miss her. I miss talking to her and hearing her laugh. I got so used to seeing her everyday, it's still a shock every day that I spend in this empty apartment.

I stare at my phone, willing for a text to come through, and to my surprise, one does. But it's not from Annie.

Maybe Chiara

Hi Sam, this is Chiara. I used to work with Annie and she gave me your phone number when I reached out to her last week. I've been putting together a list of documents, photos, and comments from other coworkers of ours to build a case against Mitch Austen. Would you be interested in meeting and talking about anything you remember that happened with Annie? I know that's a lot. She said she doesn't want to be involved with anything relating to him right now, which I get, but it would be helpful to get an eyewitness of the aftermath.

I stare at my phone dumbly. Didn't Annie tell Noah that she already reported Mitch? And that the cops wouldn't do anything?

I'm happy to chat. Free anytime. Let me know when and where.

I may as well ask my questions to Chiara, maybe she'll have some answers.

"Hi, thanks for meeting with me." Chiara stands as I walk toward her table. We met briefly—once—a few years ago after she started working at Austen's, but that time in my life is a little fuzzy.

I shake her hand. "Of course."

We both sit and she clasps her hands in front of her. "I put in my two weeks right after Annie left and told me what had happened. But because she was gone and I was the highest chef at Austen's, I've been staying on to train the new chef. She's young, twenty-three. And I noticed about a week after she started, that Mitch started to take a special interest in her."

My jaw clenches, but I keep listening.

"I don't believe anything has happened yet, but I did tell her about Annie—with her permission—and the new chef told me she'll let me know if anything happens. But I'd like to stop anything from ever happening, to anyone ever again."

I nod. "That's smart."

"I have a friend who works at one of the precincts here, so she's helping me out to build a case against Mitch. If you could share anything about where you were and when you saw things happening with Annie, that would be great. I'll record you if you don't mind."

"That's fine."

She puts her phone on the table between us, and I tell her everything that I remember.

"Thanks again for meeting with me," Chiara says as we stand to go.

"You're welcome." I shove my hands into the front pockets of my jeans. "I do have one question though. Why are you doing all this if Annie reported after he hit her? She told her brother she'd reported everything and that they weren't doing anything."

Chiara looks sad. "She didn't ever report. She wanted to keep her job, and so she didn't report because she didn't want to rock the boat. My guess is that she told her brother that so he'd get off her back."

That's what I thought. "Thanks."

I walk home slowly, feeling the weight of our conversation. Annie must have felt like she had to deal with everything all alone. "You're killing me, sunshine," I say to myself. I want to be there for her, but I can't be unless she lets me in. When I see her again, I'll show her that I'm all in. That no matter what, I'm going to be there for her. That she doesn't need to run away when things get hard.

Because I'm not going anywhere.