The First to Die at the End

by Adam Silvera

Valentino seems nervous sharing. “I really like Vale because it feels like the fraternal twin to my name. Alike, but not identical because they’re pronounced differently. It’s also unisex, which I love.” I genuinely love the name too, but I’m too choked up to say anything. He really gave this a lot of thought, and it will never happen. There are some bucket-list boxes you can check off on your End Day and others that are impossible. Like Valentino getting married to the love of his life and having a child named Vale. “I hate that you’re being robbed of all these moments.” “What moments?” “Everything you want. Falling in love, walking down the aisle at your wedding, holding your baby for the first time, all of that.” “I hate it too. I like knowing that it doesn’t die with me. You’re the first person I’ve spoken to about Vale.” “Not even Scarlett?” “No. I’m like you that I’m not sure how realistic all that was. I certainly believed I’d have more time to make those dreams come true, but there were still so many barriers. I didn’t want Scarlett to get so excited only to not watch it all happen. Especially because she wants a big family of her own; she’s hoping for triplets. She would’ve offered to name a kid Vale for me, but that would’ve meant giving up on my Vale. I might have to take her up on that now.”