Blackout

This section gives deeper insight into the relationship between Kareem and Tammi. Specifically, it is evident that, both from her behavior and her narration, Tammi is still very much in love with Kareem. In the first part of the story, Tammi’s narration provides a more detailed picture of her feelings about Kareem. Tammi’s inner musings about the ways in which Kareem has changed or remained the same since their breakup indicates that she has yet to get over him. Additionally, that Tammi fights the urge to share her life with Kareem and catch him up on all the things he has missed in the four months since their breakup works to demonstrate both the strength of their emotional bond and the impact that the separation has had on Tammi. The fact that she allows herself to consider the possibility that they may one day be close again suggests that despite her misgivings about Kareem, he will always be an important figure in her life. Though their relationship is still undetermined, the bond between Tammi and Kareem emphasizes the novel’s theme of The Lasting Impact of Childhood Friendships, as Tammi mourns losing an ex-boyfriend, but also a best friend of many years as well.

Tammi’s lingering feelings for Kareem are most evident when they come across a crowd dancing in the street. Though they join in with the crowd, the fact that Tammi must force herself to pull away from Kareem, for fear of letting her emotions get the best of her and kissing him, further shows that what she wants and the reality she is living are two different things.

The moment in which Kareem uses Tammi’s phone to play a beat he made for the crowd proclaims Kareem’s passion for music. That Tammi is impressed with his newfound skills both draws attention to the fact that they have missed out on so much of each other’s lives since breaking up and indicates that Kareem has the drive and talent to make his career dreams come true.

The discussion Tammi and Kareem have about college and their foiled plans of attending schools in New York work to demonstrate that both parties have regrets about how the breakup has impacted their plans. That Kareem closes the space between them to rest his forehead on Tammi’s and asks point-blank “is it too late?” serves as proof that like Tammi, he is also not over the relationship. The fact that the intimate moment is interrupted by a call from Tammi’s mother is a deliberate narrative choice, as it works to continue to build narrative tension.