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If I Stay Chapter 2: 8:17 A.M. Summary

How It All Goes Down

  • The family piles into the car.
  • First, they listen to the news.
  • Then, they listen to the classical station.
  • Beethoven puts Mia dead to sleep.
  • And we mean dead.
  • When Mia wakes up, "the car is eviscerated" (2.17).
  • And so is Mia's family. They have been in a horrible accident.
  • Mia finds her Dad and Mom dead in the car.
  • Mia searches for her brother Teddy and finds—herself.
  • Confused, Mia realizes she is having an out of body experience.
  • Beethoven is still playing on the radio, and ghost-Mia listens to it until the paramedics arrive.