Immortality

In 2025 scientists discovered a chemical to stop telomeres shortening as people aged. When it was first released, it cost millions per dose, with only the wealthy able to achieve eternal life.

In 2050 this chemicals patent ran out, the company that owned the rights to manufacture it applied to the courts to have it extended. But the judges ruled against them, each of them using legal precedent to work to their own agenda of making sure they would be able to afford the wonder drug.

In 2060 the world was flooded with the “wonder drug” that was now just called “Vitamin T”. Production of this drug became so widespread that the price per dose dropped from millions to a few pennies. But it still had a massive limitation, once you started taking it, you had to continue for the rest of your life, or as the news stations started to call it, you would suffer from “accelerated telomere disintegration syndrome”. Simply put, the years would catch up with you, your telomeres would fall apart, and overnight you would age through all the years you had cheated.

In 2070 a Japanese lab announced a new breakthrough, and they had altered “Vitamin T” to a new compound they named “Vitamin Tmax”. This drug was revolutionary, as you only needed a single dose to maintain your eternal life.

In 2071 the Japanese manufacturing plant was bombed by pro-death activists. This had the unanticipated side effect of aerosolising the Vitamin Tmax awaiting shipment.

It quickly became apparent that the aerosolised drug had spread everywhere around the globe and dissolved into our watercourses. All deaths due to old age had ceased, not just in humans but every species that shared the Earth.

In 2072 the global mortality rate had been reduced to 1/10,000th of ten years previously.

The race was now on, as we had cured old age one by one, we cured every other illness that affected humankind. Having learnt from the Japanese explosion, we aerosolised these cures, allowing them to spread freely around the globe to humans and all the other species.

It wasn’t until 2180 that the general population started to take notice of the drop-in birth rate. Animal breeders also started to notice that it was impossible for them to breed a new litter, and however much they tried, the animals failed to get pregnant.

By 2200 the youngest human being was 16 years old.

The Mortis group had picked today, the 2nd of November 2240, the day of the dead, to try and prove their theory. They had spent years recruiting, knowing that they had to have millions involved to prove the point that they were arguing.

“What if they’re wrong?” He glared at his wife of 150 years angrily, “What if they’ve made a mistake. We can’t have run out of souls, that’s just such a ridiculous concept. Do you honestly believe in reincarnation? Tell me you don’t believe what that cult is spouting? That we need to free up some souls, that we need death for the next generation to live.” He slammed his hands down on the dining room table to emphasise his point.

“But what if they’re right? Do you not remember those 30 years of heartbreak we went through with our daughter? Clinic after clinic all offering the solution to her infertility. She injected drugs, she had surgery, and she grieved every time the pregnancy test came back negative. I’ve lived a good life, I’ve lived a long life, and now I’m ready to leave, to give her a small chance of having the baby that will fill the hole in her heart.”

He reached across to grab her hand. “Do you really believe in reincarnation? Do you really believe we’ve just run out of souls? I’m not ready to lose you. Please, just don’t do it this time. Why not just wait and see? If it works, maybe she’ll get the baby she wants, and you can be a grandmother.”

She shook her head sadly at her husband. “But what if everyone says that? What if no one goes through with it? Then what’s the point? I’ve lived a better life than I possibly could have imagined. I’ve lived long enough to see things I never thought I’d get to see. Now I’m tired. Now I need to leave to make room for the next generation that should have been born so long ago.” She stood up to leave, but her legs started to feel wobbly under her.

“Please, don’t leave me.” His words came out in a whisper, but she could only smile sadly at him.

“I’m so sorry, it’s too late”. She looked down at her watch. It had been an hour since she’d taken the drug that would end her life today. Her legs started to give way, but her husband dashed to catch her and slide her onto the floor.

She rested her head on his shoulder as her eyes got too heavy to open and she felt his hand brushing her hair as she drifted into her final sleep.