[ WP ] In our world , an irreversible surgery is now available to remove the part of the brain that causes love . For those who have it , there is no more heartbreak .

“ I have to ask you one last time. Are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this? I have to remind you that this procedure is irreversible. ” 
 
 “ I ’ m sure. ” 
 
 I signed one last piece of paper while laying down in my gown on some sort of gurney. I glanced through the pamphlet once more while the doctor wrote intelligible things on a form. ‘ Be happier. ” ‘ More and more popular. ’ ‘ Savings, ’ ‘ No more heartbreak ’ 
 
 That last one is what brought me here. I need this gone. This feeling I can ’ t shake, this hurt. This sickness in my stomach. That hair of hers, it ’ s all I see. That voice is all I hear. And his. Their voices together, laughing. Their hands touching and their bodies pressed together. I think of nothing else. 
 
 They wheeled me through a few sets of doors until we reached a big white room filled with alien machines and doctors in masks. One would be nervous at this point. But I was anxious. I couldn ’ t wait any longer, and these strangers were my saviours. 
 
 One man put a mask over my face. 
 
 “ Count backwards from 10. ” 
 
 10…. I thought of her and I, that one day at dinner. 
 
 9…. Her voice, like a drug. Even while explaining why we couldn ’ t be. 
 
 8…. Those eyes, so soft and inviting. Mine avoiding contact 
 
 7…. Him coming and putting his arm around her. 
 
 6…. Her giggling and they turned around, moving away. 
 
 5…. Her smiling at him. 
 
 4…. Me trying to smile. 
 
 3…. Her…. 
 
 I drifted off. 
 
 
 I didn ’ t know what time it was, but I was awake. Nurses had been coming and going and I had been staring at television in my room. It was over and done with. No more pain. No more anything, in fact. I was free. But free of what? 
 
 The news anchor was a twenty-something brunette reporting on the procedure I just had done. 
 
 “ This expensive and controversial operation removes the part of the brain responsible for the feeling of love, while keeping everything else intact. But is it safe? Is it human? What are we without love? Tonight, we have experts from around the world here with us to discuss what the public are calling the ‘ Loveotomy ’. ” 
 
 They continued to talk about how love makes us human. That without it, we would be nothing but empty shells. Is that what I am now? I can ’ t be sure. I feel the same desires I have always had. I want power. I want sustenance. I want happiness. But I don ’ t want companionship. 
 
 I ’ m looking at this anchor, and I want her. I want nothing to do with her, but she looks good enough to sleep with. These nurses periodically tending to me, I want them. But I have no desire to stay with them. How can people even do that? What was I thinking before? People spending their lives with each other, it ’ s ridiculous. They are the ones who are shells. Shells indoctrinated with the idea that marriage and love is what is expected of us. They feel drawn to each other by something that is nothing but exaggerated lust. They are insane. They are fools. 
 
 I thought of her again, but I had nothing but the desire for her body. I thought of my so-called friends who urged me to not go through with this operation. They were also fools. I ’ ll never be calling them again. I don ’ t need them anymore. I don ’ t need anyone anymore. I am free. 
 
 This is how I feel. I feel nothing. 

