Say You'll Remember Me

The lava lamp serves as a powerful symbol of connection and shared experience between Xavier and Samantha. When they meet at Mother Putters during their first date, Xavier helps Samantha win tickets for prizes, and they ultimately redeem them for a lava lamp. She tells Xavier, “I always wanted to get enough tickets to get the lava lamp” because “[i]t’s not the same if you get it somewhere else. It just hits different from the prize counter” (50). This demonstrates how Samantha values authentic experiences and connections over mere possessions.

The lava lamp becomes a constant reminder of their relationship, appearing throughout the novel in Samantha’s apartment. When Xavier visits her apartment for the first time after they’ve been separated, he immediately notices it: “He peered around and smiled at the lava lamp” (167). This moment reveals how the object has come to symbolize their relationship—something beautiful and mesmerizing that they earned together.

Later, when Xavier gives Samantha her Christmas gift of a seashell necklace from their beach trip, the lava lamp glows in the background, illuminating their intimate moment: “The only light in the room was from the pale glow of the lava lamp on her nightstand” (183). The lamp’s gentle, undulating movement parallels the fluid nature of their relationship—constantly changing shape but remaining contained within the same vessel.