We hang up. I’m so happy that I start shaking. I might even cry.

“Scarlett’s coming!” Orion says.

“She sure is! She’s boarding her plane now.”

“We just got to guard your life with your life,” Orion says, smirking.

Five-hour flight with another hour for traffic. I have to survive another five hours. I’m not good at math, so I don’t know what the probabilities are of seeing Scarlett with just under twelve hours max before my End Day concludes, but the odds are feeling great. I’m no longer exhausted and starving, I’m rested and satisfied. I would take off into a run right now with my hands thrown up in the air as if I’m breaking through marathon tape, but now’s not the time to overexcite Orion’s heart or risk falling into a manhole.

“What should we do? How about something iconic? Maybe the Empire State Building?”

Orion winces. “I’m not going to hold you back, but I don’t really do super tall iconic buildings anymore.”

“Say no more.”

“I’m happy to go with you, I’ll just hang out downstairs.”

I try to make sense of how that would work in this new world of Death-Cast. If Orion—someone who isn’t dying today—doesn’t accompany me up to the Empire State Building, does that increase the risk of something catastrophic like the attack on the World Trade Center? Or if he did go up with me, does that thwart death? I’m sure the world will get its answer one day, but I’ll die without it. It doesn’t feel like a true loss in the grand scheme of things, and the same goes for not visiting the Empire State Building.

“No worries. It would’ve been cool to feel like a king of the world and swear at the sky again, but I’ll save that for another life.”

He’s quiet, and I feel bad. I don’t want him down on himself, because he’s not holding me back. He’s been pushing me forward.

“I’m sorry. I was only kidding.”

“No shit,” Orion says with a smirk. “Come on, I’m not that soft.”

It’s funny how well I feel I know him and how much more there is to learn. The one bright side to Scarlett not being here yet means I get to spend more time with Orion. Hopefully I’m able to introduce them to each other. Not only because Orion will be carrying my heart but in the hopes he can look after Scarlett in New York when I’m gone.

“What are you thinking about, then?” I ask.

“The next two stops in your End Day adventure. The first is somewhere most New Yorkers haven’t visited, and the second is iconic. Do you want to know or be surprised?”

I choose surprise. That’s a welcome gift.