Was Rolando not paying attention when Joaquin made tonight’s first call? Is he not aware that Joaquin is Death-Cast’s creator and may know a thing or two about the hardships of these jobs? Does he not suspect that although tonight is the official launch of the program that Joaquin is no stranger to telling people they’re going to die? Because he isn’t.

This may be a first for the country, but it’s not a first for Joaquin.

“I understand these conversations are difficult, even impossible,” Joaquin says. “But we have a responsibility to everyone who is paying for our crucial services.”

“It’s not like this old man was asking why his cable box wasn’t working. He had no one in his life. I couldn’t just hang up.”

Joaquin toyed around with the idea of setting automatic timers to the calls, cutting off the line after five minutes so the heralds wouldn’t be put in this position. Perhaps it’s something to revisit at the end of the first month, using the average time spent on calls to determine that magic number of minutes.

“While you’re taking time as you walk one Decker through their End Day, think of those who are dying without ever knowing their time was up,” Joaquin reminds him, knowing he has said this over and over during the training sessions leading up to tonight. But now that the heralds are connecting with real people who are really dying, the urgency behind this statement must carry more weight than ever before.

Rolando seems broken down, rubbing his eyes. “I’ll do my best.”

“Don’t worry about your best tonight,” Joaquin gently says. “That will come with more experience. Just see if you can improve your efforts so you can reach more people in need of your care.”

Joaquin allows Rolando to return to work, hoping he’ll make up for lost time.

If not, maybe working in a funeral home isn’t a bad idea.

Those who can’t be trusted to call people before they die are better off dealing with them when they’re dead.

Rolando Rubio

1:04 a.m.

Death-Cast did not call Rolando Rubio because he isn’t dying today, though according to his boss, it seems as if anyone who dies without knowing it’s their End Day will be Rolando’s fault. All because he spent too much time on the phone with one Decker. Pardon him for caring and for grieving a stranger.