“I feel like I’m missing a whole chapter of your story,” Orion says. “You’re fresh off this accident. I’d think now more than ever you’d jump at the chance for Death-Cast to give you some peace of mind.”

“I’m definitely at a crossroads. I recognize Death-Cast’s value, but I’m not sure how ready I am to believe in another force that feels too mysterious. Not after the way my parents used religion to turn their backs on me.”

“I’m so sorry,” Dalma says. “That’s horrible.”

“That’s total bullshit,” Orion says.

I almost tell them it’s okay and don’t because it’s not. There may be a lot I’m still processing about where I stand on faith since coming out, but my parents weaponizing God against me isn’t right. “Thanks for siding with me,” I say. It really is nice to have more support. I couldn’t find enough of it at home and now I’m finding it in a new city.

Orion looks up at the mega screen, watching the hourglass. “I get why you’re torn.”

“Maybe you can be the tiebreaker for me. Why did you sign up for Death-Cast?”

Orion

11:44 p.m.

Why someone signs up for Death-Cast tells you a lot about them.

Here’s Valentino—former stranger, now friend-in-the-making—who wants to buy into the End Day calls because of a near death but not death.

There’s a huge difference, obviously.

I’m not dead, but I regularly feel like I’m living that near-death life. I know that motherfucking grim reaper keeps inching closer and closer, almost like he moved into our brownstone, starting off with a cute little lounge across the couch, and then got lonely so he rolled out an air mattress in my room, but then his scythe popped all the air out the mattress and he had no other choice but to cozy up with me in my twin bed. I might have that death breath all up on me, but I’m still here.

When it comes to near death and death, I know both sides of that coin.

I’m not alone in that.

Dalma has been through it too, and we swap looks, like we’re trying to see who’s going to spill first on why we signed up for Death-Cast.

“You wanted to tell your story,” Dalma says. “Now’s your chance.”

I’m nervous now, feeling the pressure to actually sell the service to Valentino.