The First to Die at the End

At 10:22 p.m., Valentino thinks about how he is not registered for Death-Cast. He has just moved from Phoenix to New York City. His sister is due to get into New York in a few hours, and they won’t have to see their parents ever again.

Valentino goes to his new apartment on the Upper East Side. He dreams of being a model and his sister a photographer, and they’re using their college money to pay for their apartment.

A little boy comes in as Valentino’s landlord shows him around. The boy’s name is Paz, and Frankie, the landlord, tells him to go to bed. Paz says he’s afraid of Death-Cast. It turns out that he is Frankie’s son.

Valentino FaceTimes Scarlett, who is about to go to work before her flight. She tells him to go to the Death-Cast party. Their parents are skeptical about the new service, and Valentino and Scarlett discuss how terribly their parents treated Valentino. Even as Valentino was leaving, they ignored him, which they have done since he came out as gay.

They hang up, saying, “I love you same,” and Valentino thinks about how Scarlett almost died in a car accident. Their parents believed she survived because of God, and like God, Valentino isn’t sure how to trust Death-Cast without real proof.

At 10:34 p.m., Orion is still in Times Square. He buys a shirt that says “Have a Happy End Day!” and pulls it on. Dalma’s parents—who adopted Orion—keep checking in. They take a picture to send to them.

Passing Death-Cast representatives, Orion thinks about how expensive the service is at $275 a month. His guardians subscribed for him because of his heart condition. It is not covered by insurance.

They pass a small amphitheater that’s been set up where people can have their names drawn to explain why they signed up for Death-Cast. Orion thinks about how much he hopes he’ll one day be a published author doing a reading in a bookstore, and he decides to put his name in.

Valentino walks through the city, thrilled to take in the sights. He thinks that “perspective is everything” (28). As a model, different photographers will portray him based on their point of view. He can’t wait for his sister to arrive.

When he reaches Times Square, he runs onto the stage where people are telling their “Death-Cast Story” and decides to listen (30). There, he unknowingly stands beside Dalma and Orion, who is crying.

At 11:17 p.m., Orion is moved by all of the “Death-Cast origin stories” (31). The representative calls up the final person, and a young boy comes up. Orion is disappointed that he won’t have the opportunity.

He spots Valentino walking by and notices how beautiful he is. Nervously, Orion decides to go over to him, and they begin talking about Death-Cast. Worried that he’s ruining the conversation, Orion invites Dalma over, and Valentino assumes that Dalma is Orion’s girlfriend. They quickly clarify that they’re basically siblings, and Valentino reveals that he has a sister and just moved to New York. Then, Dalma and Orion invite him to join them.

At 11:32 p.m., Valentino’s narration reveals that he is also attracted to Orion and wants to make it clear that he’s gay.

The trio talks about New York, and Valentino explains that he wants to do everything he can in the city. Orion offers to be his tour guide.

When Dalma asks Valentino about college, he explains that he’s a model, and Orion is thrilled that his prediction was right. Valentino mentions that he will start his first modeling gig the next day for a queer clothing line from queer designers. He adds that it’s important to him since he is gay, noticing Orion’s joy when he does so.

Asking about their dreams, Orion says he is a short story writer, and Dalma says she’s a programmer. She wants to create something as “game-changing” as Death-Cast (47). When Valentino goes quiet, Dalma and Orion ask about his thoughts on Death-Cast. Valentino confesses that he doesn’t believe in it. Orion admits that he can understand his skepticism but asks if Valentino has a reason he’d want to sign up.

Valentino describes Scarlett’s car accident and how scary it was when she was hit by a distracted driver. The fear of not knowing is what tempts him to sign up. However, just like his parents used their religion to ignore him after he came out, he’s worried about committing to another unseen force. He feels comfort in confiding in Dalma and Orion. Then, he asks why they signed up for Death-Cast.

At 11:44 p.m., Orion considers how he will explain his story and how he’s had a “near-death life” (52). Dalma points out it’s a chance for Orion to share his story, but she volunteers to go first.

Dalma relays that her father died from kidney cancer when she was three. Eventually, she came to understand that he wasn’t coming back. She and Orion have bonded over not having their parents around.

Then, Orion reveals that he has a heart condition, surprising Valentino. With his cardiomyopathy, he may die at any time. Death-Cast means that he’ll have some sense that it’s coming. He then adds that his parents passed away during 9/11. Orion knows that he’s not the only one in New York with a story about the attacks on the World Trade Center, but he’s been frustrated before because people often share their own stories without really listening to his. Valentino, however, is not a New Yorker and isn’t quick to cut off Orion with his own experience.

On September 11, 2001, Orion was in fourth grade. He had volunteered to be on his school’s safety patrol squad and was excited. Then, on his way back to the classroom, he stopped at the security desk, where he saw footage of the attacks on the news. At first, he didn’t realize it was happening in New York, thinking it was a video game or another country. By that time, his parents had already been killed.

Eventually, he realized that the Twin Towers—where his parents were having a meeting—had been attacked. Later, Dalma’s mom, Dayana, was called to pick him up once everyone else’s parents had already come to the school.

Orion adds that even though his parents have passed away, he knows that if you keep breathing after a tragedy, you can start living again. He emphasizes that Death-Cast would at least give him a chance to say goodbye if something bad did happen to someone he loved. Valentino decides to sign up.

Eight minutes before midnight, Valentino signs up for one day of Death-Cast. A message from the founder explains that they call those who receive a Death-Cast call “Deckers” because they are “all the captains on the decks of your own ships, setting sail on your own journeys” (64).

Valentino is starting to wonder if destiny is real, especially after meeting Orion or Dalma. He thinks about how strong they are and how endearing Orion is.

Dalma asks what steps they want to take moving forward. She wants to figure out what her app is going to do. Valentin wants to make memories. Orion admits that he doesn’t want to die. Then, Dalma tells him to be uplifting, and he corrects himself to say that he wants to continue living.

They start looking at one of the screens in Time Square, but Orion keeps his eyes closed. Then, Valentino whispers into his ear, “You’re going to be okay” (66).

At the last minute before midnight, Orion explains that he writes stories because he has his own. He knows he won’t live long, and, thinking of Valentino, wonders what it would be like if he was sure he would have a long life.