[ WP ] There are 8 billion souls . When people die their souls are put into a queue for reincarnation . In the year 2030 there are more people alive than souls .

It was on the news. A countdown to 8 billion. The work of statistics and guesses, putting on screens the number of people alive today. It was ever growing, running exponentially towards `` too many'', or, having reached it some time ago, was now driving straight to `` Oh god''. 
 
 Most people cheered, some people gritted their teeth, some people took notes and invested somewhere nice for a good holiday home, but, in the end it was just another day. 
 
 Except for an expecting family that ran towards the ER, the father to be grinning, the mother to be screaming and the nurses and doctors working. 
 
 `` We have n't decided on a name yet.'' She said, out of breath. 
 
 `` We'll do like your mother said. Just ask the baby, it will take time but at some point he will laugh.'' 
 
 `` I really hope he does n't have your sense of humor.'' She grabbed his hand. And squeezed tightly. 
 
 He felt her hand grip his. 
 
 `` Yeah, he would be bullied, but that creates character. And that's what we need for a good Thor.'' 
 
 She sighed, throwing her head backwards and staring angrily at the ceiling. 
 
 `` Or Tyrion?'' He went on. 
 
 `` The room is ready.'' Announced the nurse and they both went in, hands still locked tight. 
 
 Inside, she laid on the bed with minimum effort of her own, and the doctor came in for a quick check-up. 
 
 `` You are almost ready.'' He smiled professionally. A good smile that meant he cared for the patient, not a professional smile a boss gives their employee before pointing at the door. And left the room. 
 
 Both thanked the doctor, and looked to each other with a tired smile. 
 
 She was dozing off, almost sleeping. 
 
 `` Ju?'' He shook her hand with a concerned look. `` Julia?'' 
 
 Opening her eyes seemed a quest, a test of strength. 
 
 `` Hi?'' 
 
 She seemed pale at a second glance and sick at a third. 
 
 `` You okay?'' 
 
 She gave a sheepish smile, grunting positively. He had seen that smile enough times that he felt confortable, knowing that she was going to sleep. 
 
 And then he remembered what they were doing. Screaming, slapping, digging her nails, be it at the bed or at him at contraption frequencies was the norm. Not sleeping. 
 
 He felt, suddenly, out of place. 
 
 Everything was accounted for. The water breaking, the taxi on quick call, the bags, the parents, the hospital, everything, even her health. 
 
 `` Julia? `` They were in a hospital. `` SOMEONE PLEASE!'' He shouted at the walls. `` SOMEONE! NURSE!'' 
 
 Her hand was still in his, colder every time he thought about it. The previous check ups did n't say anything about any risk. He could be overreacting, her pressure could have dropped, but at a time like this? 
 
 Moments like these make the fact of someone being an earshot of an event, something of importance, a late nurse maybe would n't be able to deal with the patient, or a too late nurse would just have to ask for the father to leave, while they took out the defibrilator. 
 
 There was a nurse right outside of the room, and it took her no time to get in and get involved. 
 
 But this is not like one of those moments. In fact, it would n't matter where the nurse was. 
 
 `` Julia, it will all be okay.'' He slid his hands through her hair. `` How are the contraptions? Do they hurt? Do you want me to scream for you?'' He showed some teeth. 
 
 `` Julia? Julia?'' Her hands felt like heavy silk, melting through his fingers. The nurse asked him to leave as a whole team came in. Not remembering when he stood up or who helped him out of the room, remembering only that her hand did n't feel like hers anymore. A fixed gazed kept him from crying, staring across the narrow corridor, trying to make the wall guilty with a look. `` Julia. Julia.'' He repeated for each heartbeat she missed. 
 
 He waited out of the room. Not knowing what to do with his hands. 
 
 __ 
 
 He woke up with the doctor tapping on his shouder. 
 `` I'm sorry. We tried everything.'' The professional smile was there again. `` Your son is fine. If you want to see the kid... - The doctor guided him away from the room. 
 The kid was there, in all its size and burdens. He looked at it. 
 `` Julia.'' He thought out loud. 
 The baby looked like he heard him. And more, seemd to agree with him. 

