Found You in the Algorithm ~ Sam golbach

30

Location: The living room.
Pizza boxes on the table. Matt's half-asleep with a blanket over his head.
Chris is watching Hot Ones on the TV.
Nick's arguing with Colby over which Taylor Swift album is the most emotionally destructive.

Sam's phone buzzes.

Nick: "If it's Reputation, you're literally just wrong."

Colby: "If you say Lover one more time I'm muting you—"

Sam: softly "Guys..."

They stop.

He's holding his phone like it's glass.

Colby (gentle): "She messaged again?"

Sam nods. "Voice memo."

He doesn't ask.
Doesn't warn them.
He just presses play.

⸻

🎧 Voice Memo from Melinda (played aloud)

"Hey sweet boy. Just wanted to tell you in response to your message, Sammy...
You don't have to respond fast every time. You have your own life, and I understand that."

"I will never push you to respond to me immediately. I don't mind if you need a couple days to sleep on it, or if you don't know what to say. I'll still be here. I still have my phone. I still have my Instagram. I'll always respond to you — no matter how long it takes. A day. A week. A month. Doesn't matter."

"I've always seen people for who they are.
And yeah — you're definitely not used to being seen, because you're a YouTuber. You have a YouTube front. But I see past that. That's just who I am."

"And again... stop saying thank you.
You're saying it like this is something I had to do.
It's not.
It's something I wanted to do."

⸻

Chris: softly "Holy shit..."

Nick: blinking fast "She's not real. There's no way she's real."

Matt: sitting up now, blanket sliding off "Shut up, I'm listening."

⸻

"So baby, don't ever say thank you to me.
You don't need to."

"And yes, Sammy — I absolutely meant it when I said you can call."

"I'm glad you think I'm the kind of person people write books about.
And yeah, I do care out loud.
And I don't have an agenda.
Because people deserve care without having to think, 'Okay, now I owe them something.'
That's not care.
That's manipulation, baby."

"I just want people to know they are cared for without needing to give anything back.
Because that is true care."

⸻

Sam hasn't moved.
His hands are locked together like he's holding himself in place.

⸻

"Also, baby... it's okay to cry.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with that."

"Okay — I'm sending you forehead kisses and a long hug.
I will always give you the version of you that is worthy — even if he's buried deep."

"He's there.
You deserve to feel worthy.
Because you are."

"And that is a promise, baby boy."

⸻

Colby: blinking fast "Oh my god..."

Nick: genuinely crying "WHO raised this girl??"

Matt: sotto voce "She's a love letter. Walking."

⸻

"And yes...
I'll talk to you soon.
Whenever you're ready.
No pressure.
No timestamp."

"I'm always here, baby boy."

⸻

The room is dead silent.

No one speaks.
Even the TV goes quiet as Chris grabs the remote and turns it off mid-interview.

Sam leans forward, hands in his hair, head bowed.

Not in pain.

Just overwhelmed.

⸻

Colby: softly
"You okay, man?"

Sam (barely audible):
"She meant every word.
I felt it.
Like she didn't even hesitate."

⸻

Nick: sniffling
"She sent forehead kisses. I'm gonna lose it."

Chris: "She didn't even flinch when she called him baby. Like it was the most normal, gentle thing in the world."

Matt (quietly):
"She told him there's no timestamp.
That's not just care.
That's devotion."

⸻

Sam finally looked up.
His voice cracked, but he smiled.

Sam:
"She says I'm worthy...
Even if the worthy version's buried deep."

Colby (smiling slowly):
"Yeah. And she's gonna keep digging 'til she finds him."