The First to Die at the End

by Adam Silvera

I give him the camera, though I feel bad about scaring this Mateo kid, who keeps looking around. I get this heartbreaking feeling that maybe it’s Mateo’s End Day and he’s terrified of dying but he really wanted to people-watch in Times Square before he does. Valentino snaps me out of it when he turns my gaze to him, our eyes locked. The man counts us down from three and instead of smiling for the camera, Valentino leans in and kisses me. It means everything that I’ll have this moment immortalized, and when we pull apart, Valentino is smiling with his eyes closed, as if he’s burning this moment into his memory, as if he’s not going to be able to look over the pictures with me. “Beautiful,” the man says, handing me the camera. “This will make for a great postcard to send to your family.” “Not for my family it won’t,” Valentino sadly says. “I’m sorry to hear that,” the man says. “I’m happy you’re living your life as you should.” “Thank you, sir.” Valentino shakes the man’s hand, and I do the same. I turn to Mateo. “Sorry if we scared you before. Truce?”

noooooo