They Both Die at the End

They Both Die at the End

by

Adam Silvera

They Both Die at the End: Mateo, 1:28 p.m. Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
The firefighters manage to put the fire out. Mateo is hungry, but he doesn’t feel like he can waste his End Day eating when he and Rufus almost died. He sits next to Rufus and watches people talk to the police. Mateo decides to leave the postcards on the ground—he can’t write when there are dead Deckers all around.
Dying seems more real to Mateo too, which is why he can’t fathom eating. Doing so seems far less important compared to everything else he could be doing, like savoring his last hours with Rufus and continuing to build their friendship.
Themes
Mortality, Life, and Meaning Theme Icon
Friendship and Chosen Family Theme Icon