“Hello. This is Joaquin Rosa coming to you from the Death-Cast offices with some news. It has been brought to our attention that there was a flaw in our system, and while I can’t disclose what caused this error, I must own that it has happened, and as a result, we not only betrayed the very promises made to our users, but we failed our mission to begin this new age of no longer worrying about unexpected departures. I will be haunted by those losses until the day I die. I offer the deepest apologies and will be reaching out to the affected parties personally in the very near future. If they’ll take my call, that is.”

Some might say Joaquin shouldn’t apologize for something that isn’t his fault. He certainly believes that he’s not fully responsible for everyone in his company as if he’s hovering over everyone’s shoulder and proofing their work. But he can’t divulge any details as to what happened so just like Death-Cast’s successes, he must also be the face of its failures.

“But Death-Cast won’t die today. While we have failed to call some Deckers to alert them that today was their End Day, we are tracking a one hundred percent success rate in the predictions we have made. Unfortunately, those we’ve called have died, or we believe, will be dead by day’s end. We can hope to be wrong there, but ask that you continue to operate as if we aren’t.”

Joaquin takes a deep breath, giving any viewer a chance to let that sink in.

“As for today’s error, I believe the issue has been resolved for all our users, beginning tomorrow. For the next ten hours, I ask you all to remain mindful. Live life to the fullest, but don’t live it as if you’re invincible.”

Valentino

2:02 p.m.

Life moves fast when you stop waiting around for what you want. When you go for it.

To think Orion and I started our trip on the Brooklyn Bridge talking about why love is hard for boys like us to coming out the other side holding hands is as amazing as our first kiss.

Now the only time I’m able to spend in Brooklyn before I die is walking to the Court Street station so Orion and I can return to Manhattan for our first date in Times Square, where we first met.

Am I concerned I’m destined to die in Times Square? Maybe a little. But I don’t want to keep giving power to things that are beyond me. This is a choice I am making. This isn’t part of some higher being’s grand plan.

I’m going back to Times Square, where my life should’ve ended, and I’m going to enjoy my first date with the boy who saved my life.