Lidia Character Analysis in They Both Die at the End

Lidia is Mateo’s best friend. About a year before the novel begins, Lidia had her daughter, Penny, which changed Lidia in a number of ways. Before, Lidia she got her hair done weekly and was a dedicated student—but having Penny meant that Lidia had to drop out of high school to care for her. Penny’s birth was also traumatic, since about a week before Penny was born, Lidia’s fiancé, Christian, received his Death-Cast alert and died—but because he was out of town and Lidia was so exhausted, she missed all his attempts to contact her and say goodbye. In the present, Lidia isn’t close with her parents, so she’s raising Penny alone with her grandmother, Abuelita. In Mateo’s opinion, Lidia is more beautiful than ever since having Penny, but Lidia feels like she looks tired all the time and so she never allows others to put pictures of her on social media. By the same token, Lidia thinks that Mateo’s Facebook page is a “wasteland,” but his social media presence is nevertheless something she finds comforting. Lidia and Mateo have been friends for years, and their relationship is extremely close—but they’re not the type of friends who constantly voice their affection for each other. Rather, both of them prefer to show the other that they care through their actions and their support. However, when Mateo chooses to not tell Lidia that he’s dying, it seriously hurts Lidia’s feelings. She’s simultaneously enraged and thrilled when Mateo contacts her and asks her to join them at the Travel Area. Lidia is also fully supportive when Mateo comes out as gay to her, and she offers to tell Mateo’s dad if neither Mateo nor Rufus have the chance to tell Dad themselves.

Lidia Quotes in They Both Die at the End

The They Both Die at the End quotes below are all either spoken by Lidia or refer to Lidia. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Fast-forward five years when Death-Cast came into the picture and suddenly everyone was awake at their own funerals. Having the chance to say goodbye before you die is an incredible opportunity, but isn’t that time better spent actually living? Maybe I would feel differently if I could count on people showing up to my funeral. If I had more friends than I do fingers.

Related Characters: Mateo Torrez (speaker), Lidia, Dad

Page Number and Citation: 7

Explanation and Analysis:

Rufus E. (3:19 a.m.): Hey, Mateo. Nice hat.

He not only responded, but he likes my Luigi hat from my profile picture. He’s already connecting to the person I want to become.

Related Characters: Mateo Torrez (speaker), Rufus Emeterio (speaker), Lidia

Related Symbols: Photos

Page Number and Citation: 74

Explanation and Analysis:

But I wasn’t honest with Rufus because, on a deep level, I do believe partying on the train is my kind of scene. It’s just that the fear of disappointing others or making a fool of myself always wins.

Related Characters: Mateo Torrez (speaker), Rufus Emeterio, Lidia

Page Number and Citation: 109

Explanation and Analysis:

This is Penny’s beginning. And one day she’ll find herself on the terrible end of a Death-Cast call and it sucks how we’re all being raised to die. Yes, we live, or we’re given the chance to, at least, but sometimes living is hard and complicated because of fear.

Related Characters: Mateo Torrez (speaker), Lidia, Penny

Page Number and Citation: 150

Explanation and Analysis:

Twelve hours ago I received the phone call telling me I’m going to die today. In my own Mateo way, I’ve said tons of goodbyes already [...] but the most important goodbye is the one I said to Past Mateo, who I left behind at home when my Last Friend accompanied me into a world that has it out for us. Rufus has done so much for me and I’m here to help him confront any demons following him [...]

Related Characters: Mateo Torrez (speaker), Rufus Emeterio, Lidia, Dad, Mateo’s Mom

Page Number and Citation: 227

Explanation and Analysis:

“Welcome to the World Travel Arena. Sorry to lose you three.”

“I’m not dying,” Lidia corrects.

“Oh. Cost for guests is going to be one hundred dollars,” the teller says. He looks at me and Rufus. “Suggested donation is one dollar for Deckers.”

I pay for all our tickets, donating an extra couple hundred dollars in the hope that the arena remains open for many, many years.

Related Characters: Mateo Torrez (speaker), Lidia (speaker), Rufus Emeterio, Victor, Deirdre

Page Number and Citation: 281

Explanation and Analysis:

“What am I going to do without you?”

This loaded question is the reason I didn’t want anyone to know I was dying. There are questions I can’t answer. I cannot tell you how you will survive without me. I cannot tell you how to mourn me. I cannot convince you to not feel guilty if you forget the anniversary of my death, or if you realize days or weeks or months have gone by without thinking about me.

I just want you to live.

Related Characters: Mateo Torrez (speaker), Lidia (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 322-23

Explanation and Analysis:

Lidia Character Timeline in They Both Die at the End

The timeline below shows where the character Lidia appears in They Both Die at the End. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Business, Ethics, and Dehumanization Theme Icon

...There are only a few people Mateo will miss, including Dad and Mateo’s best friend, Lidia. Mateo is a “paranoid mess,” so no one wanted to be friends—and now, he regrets... (full context)

Human Connection and Social Media Theme Icon

...isn’t awake anyway. He knows he has to go out and at least see Dad, Lidia, and Lidia’s one-year-old baby, Penny. Mateo is Penny’s godfather, which he admits is silly since... (full context)

...that that’s a promise to the world to do better. He vows not to drag Lidia into his End Day; he’ll visit her, but he won’t tell her the truth. He... (full context)

...make him suddenly fearless. Mateo says that he has to say goodbye to Dad and Lidia, and he heads for the subway. Rufus says he’s game and mentions his botched funeral,... (full context)

...possible that they won’t live long enough for Mateo to say goodbye to Dad and Lidia. Rufus insists it’s just a party and thinks that Mateo might keep them alive longer,... (full context)

Mateo withdraws $400 out of an ATM and puts it in an envelope for Lidia. He suggests they hang out in Lidia’s lobby since it’s too early to visit, but... (full context)

...Friend ever and says that this is going to be awful. He tells Rufus that Lidia was destroyed when her boyfriend, Christian, died and never got to meet Penny. Rufus asks... (full context)

Mateo calls Lidia. She’s awake and agrees that Mateo can visit. Rufus stays downstairs to call his friends... (full context)

...He tells Penny that he hopes she becomes immortal so that she can rule forever. Lidia catches this and asks why Mateo is talking like this. She raises an eyebrow when... (full context)

...he should be nervous after watching his family drown. Just then, Mateo’s phone rings: it’s Lidia calling from her grandmother’s phone, but Mateo ignores it. Rufus tries again to call Malcolm... (full context)

Lidia isn’t dying today because she didn’t get a call from Death-Cast. If she were, though,... (full context)

Mateo knows that it’s a risk to see Lidia again, but he wants to try. He borrows Rufus’s phone after they get on the... (full context)

...bravely and becoming the kind of person worthy of a romantic relationship. Rufus is incredulous. Lidia gets out of an Uber, and Mateo runs to her. They hug, Lidia slaps Mateo,... (full context)

Lidia assures Mateo that it’s not his fault, but Mateo says it might be—if he didn’t... (full context)

...The replicas of different places are fantastic. Rufus cheers for his roots in Cuba, and Lidia talks about Colombia when they get there. When the trolley stops in Puerto Rico, Rufus... (full context)

...hasn’t even been in a pool since his family died. Rufus refuses to jump, and Lidia tells Mateo that he shouldn’t jump either, but Mateo gets in line anyway. Rufus is... (full context)

...than it was last night. His phone goes off: it’s the Plutos. Mateo explains to Lidia what this means as Rufus answers the FaceTime. Malcolm and Tagoe are surprised and overjoyed... (full context)

...not spending as much time here as possible. One wall is covered in Decker graffiti. Lidia grabs Mateo’s hand, and Mateo thinks that her hand has history—he held her hand when... (full context)

...back together. Now, he’ll be remembered as the friend he is. He introduces Mateo and Lidia to the Plutos and gives his friends an account of what he and Mateo have... (full context)

...one day. He rests his forehead against Rufus and says he has to talk to Lidia. Rufus follows Mateo, and Mateo leads Lidia to a quiet spot. (full context)

Lidia sees Rufus and Mateo holding hands. Mateo apologizes for never telling her that he likes... (full context)

...thing he expected when they met. He starts to cry and says he already misses Lidia and the Plutos. Rufus says they can’t risk their lives again, and Mateo agrees, but... (full context)

Lidia is on the couch eating candy with Penny. Penny is behaving herself like she knows... (full context)