[ WP ] Humans unlock the secret to Immortality/Eternal Youth . You learn the horrible truth behind why we evolved mortal .

It all started with the last birth. 
 
 It was about nine months after the Enlightenment, the day that the government released the hormones into the air. Somehow, they unlocked the innate ability for people to be immortal. Even more impressively, they convinced the great majority of the world in consenting. 
 
 Suddenly, death was no longer something to fear, bar the occasional accident. Mankind had transcended to nirvana, greater than ever before. 
 
 But we were wrong. Oh so wrong. 
 
 I remember being there with my wife in the delivery room – excited, nervous and anxious all at the same time. We had been trying to have kids for the longest but things never worked out. After a grueling period of small chances and high risks, we were beyond joyed to find out that our prayers would be answered. There was finally a light at the end of the tunnel. 
 
 Yet, when she gave the last push, our dreams were shattered. There had been no prior issues during her pregnancy. Hell, she only had one instance of morning sickness as far as I can tell, but it didn ’ t take a doctor to tell something had gone wrong. 
 
 Our baby was… *different*. It reminded me of the plastic dolls my sister played with as a child – cold and genderless. It breathed, sure, but it never seemed to be a *alive*. To be honest, I thought it was soulless. 
 
 My suspicions weren ’ t unfounded. Several reports told us that we weren ’ t alone in our predicament. Children from all over the world were showing the same symptoms, later to be known addressed as the Dolls. I was glad to see I wasn ’ t alone in my observation. 
 
 There was panic at first, as expected. New parents were distraught while expecting ones waited in fear. The babies were born and died shortly after, most only lasting a few hours. My wife and I were “ lucky ” and got a whole day with ours. 
 
 As people realized the universal effects, they turned to scientists, priests, or anyone who would listen to their laments. They were all so desperate for answers, rightfully so. Yet, no one could explain the phenomenon. Their only solace was that we had the rest of eternity to find out. 
 
 Well, time passed and so did society. Any woman who willfully stayed pregnant was insane, branded a lunatic by whoever found out. Abortions reached an all-time high, clinics opening their doors at all times. Even the most conservative of hearts changed their stance during those dark times. 
 
 And then, they discovered the root of all the problems. In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists had discovered what they believed to be the human soul. The story buzz, spreading to all corners of the world. But it wasn ’ t just that which had people buzzing. It was the implication of their findings. 
 
 Apparently, souls are much like energy. There is a limited source in the universe, recycled when needed but never created nor destroyed. This system had worked fine before. People died and their souls were reborn into others at birth so they could start a new life. Reincarnation, in a sense. 
 
 But when immortality was in play, we broke the fundamental rule of the universe. Suddenly, energy came to screeching halt. With few deaths, no souls could be reborn. And with the few deaths that happened, they were removed from the cycle. Being immortal, we had disrupted the natural progression of souls. Instead of leaving a body, they remained static, stuck in an internal limbo. 
 
 We were destroying energy. 
 
 The world went to shit after that. There was only so much we could do. Mankind had given itself an expiration date. Once the last person died, the species would be no more. There could be no more births. All we had to push our existence forward were the glassy eyes dolls, like God ’ s sick joke at our impudence. Our pursuit of knowledge would be our downfall and we had no one to blame but ourselves. 
 
 Now, there aren ’ t many of us left. I ’ ve lost tracks of the years. It ’ s been eons and the deaths have tallied up. I lost my wife years ago, too long to feel the pain any more. I just hope that even if her soul was gone, she was in a better place. She didn ’ t deserve any of this. None of us did. 
 
 Yet, somehow I am here, staring Death in the face. It ’ s scary, knowing I ’ m immune yet powerless to stop it at the same time. I think about my childhood, when the first mention of death sent me into a frenzy. It was confusing, inconceivable. I was the thing I hoped to avoid as long as I could. 
 
 But now, I ’ ve never wanted it more.
