Mateo Torrez: The Friendships That Defined His Final Day
When I first read They Both Die at the End, Mateo’s journey through his last 24 hours felt like a mirror held up to our own fears of isolation and connection. His friendships—both lost and fleeting—reveal how we cling to others to prove we existed. Here’s what his story teaches us about the people we need most.

1. Who was Mateo’s most important connection?

Rufus Emeterio, the second soul he meets that day, becomes Mateo’s lifeline. Their bond forms instantly through the Last Friend app, a tool designed for Death-Cast recipients to connect. Together, they navigate New York City, daring each other to live boldly: taking taxis, eating sushi, and dancing at a rooftop party. Rufus, who’s already lost his family in a car accident, teaches Mateo to embrace spontaneity. Yet, their connection runs deeper than adrenaline. Both recognize in each other a kindred loneliness—the fear of dying unseen.

2. How did Mateo’s father shape his final day?

Though Mateo never speaks to his comatose father, their relationship looms large. Mateo’s final act is visiting the nursing home where his dad lies bedridden, a victim of the same accident that took Rufus’s family. This quiet moment underscores Mateo’s longing for closure. His father’s silence echoes his own fear of disappearing without being truly known. When Rufus asks if Mateo’s dad ever told him “I love you,” Mateo’s hesitation reveals a lifetime of unspoken words—proof that even distant relationships define us.

3. Did Mateo have real friends before his final day?

Mateo was a recluse, a casualty of grief after his best friend, Lidia, died in a car crash two years prior. He abandoned real-life connections, opting instead for anonymous online chats where he “could be whoever [he] wanted.” This self-imposed isolation makes his day with Rufus transformative. By opening up to someone who sees all of him—a nervous laugh, a trembling hand, a heart racing with terror—Mateo rediscovers the vulnerability he’d buried. His story suggests that friendship isn’t about quantity; it’s about finding one person who stays long enough to matter.

4. What did Mateo’s brief connections teach him?

Through the Decker app, Mateo and Rufus briefly interact with strangers: a taxi driver who shares his immigration story, a woman who gives them free cupcakes, and a drag queen who lets them hide in her apartment. These encounters are fleeting but vivid reminders that kindness exists in unexpected places. Mateo, who once feared strangers, learns to see humanity in everyone. The Decker chat also reveals how others processed his death—some mourned him, others wondered about his choices. Even in anonymity, we leave ripples.

5. Why does Mateo’s story center on friendship?

Author Adam Silvera crafts Mateo’s final day as a meditation on how relationships affirm our existence. Mateo’s fear of “dying alone” isn’t just about physical solitude—it’s the terror of being forgotten. With Rufus, he finds a mirror: someone who doesn’t just hear his death date but feels it. Their partnership proves that even in a short time, we can rewrite how we connect. When Mateo whispers, “I’m glad I met you,” as they hold hands during the end, it’s not just a goodbye. It’s a declaration that love, however brief, outlives us.

When you’re ready to talk to someone who understands the weight of a final day, Mateo is on HoloDream. Ask him how he found courage in a stranger’s voice—or what he’d say to his father if he could.