[ WP ] Overpopulation and dwindling resources have resulted in a radical societal shift : suicide is encouraged and celebrated , while growing old is a grave and selfish act .

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. 
 
 Midnight. It was officially her 30th birthday. Alone in the darkened apartment she took a sip of her whiskey. This is the year she has to make her decision. Does she live on or volunteer for eradication. Another sip from the glass. It wasn ’ t fair dammit. She didn ’ t want to die. Despite the crowded streets and high rise apartments, despite waiting in lines for hours for rations, despite the smog storms and the violence, despite all of it … she wanted to live. 
 
 Living came with a price, however. You were kicked out of the city for one. No more apartment, no more rations. No more whiskey, she supposed. But what did dying get you? Well … dead for, one. It was considered the noble life choice after all. She got up from her chair and crossed over to the only window in the small apartment, peering out over the city. 
 
 She wondered how many other birthdays there were today. How many people were faced with the same choice she now faced. Live or die. Another sip from the glass. The whiskey was fogging her mind, but the numbness was welcome. She and been anticipating this day for over a year now but still could not make up her mind. The government generously allowed you 30 days from midnight of your 30th birthday to decide your own fate. A great many chose death, their names forever etched in the Great Tower of Life at the center of town. Some decided to take their chances outside the wall, many of whom were never heard from again. Anyone who did not make their decision was taken away by the government. It was assumed they were killed but their names were never etched on the tower. Truth was no one really knew what happened to those who failed to make the choice. 
 
 She opened the window to her apartment. The cool night air felt good on her flushed face. * ” I want to live, ” * she thought to herself. She leaned over the edge of the window looking down the 20 stories to the ground. * ” I want to live, ” * she thought again leaning even further over the edge closing her eyes. * ” I want to live ” * she released the glass from her hand letting it fall to the ground far below. From this height she could not hear the glass crash on the ground bellow. She opened her eyes as she leaned precariously over the edge of her window. In her drunken state the world swirled around her. Her grip on the window ledge slipped. She was falling … * “ What have I done! ” * she thought frantically. * ” I wanted to li -- * ” 
 
 Her world went black. 

