[ WP ] The world 's weight is set . If someone loses a pound , someone else gains it .

Edward opened his eyes, his stomach rumbling with hunger. He tried to get up, but his body would n't budge. Gravity seemed stronger and his muscles, his fine toned muscles in his athletic body were unable to move. 
 
 His heart sunk into the bottom of his silken pajamas- those fine pajamas that were bursting at the seams, barely holding his suddenly obese body inside. 
 
 `` No, no, no,'' he screamed and somehow forced himself off the bed. The buttons of his night shirt broke and whizzed away like bullets as his tummy burst out of its confines. 
 
 He trundled out of his bedroom, his breath wheezing, rushing as fast as he could the bathroom. He stared at the apparition in the mirror. Instead of one square jaw, the face had multitudes of chins and the layers of fat on his face made his eyes look like pinpoints. His man-breasts were huge. His stomach, Edward almost wept, was a planet unto itself. 
 
 Edward stood on the weighing scale. He could n't see the number it showed. Yesterday, he weighed a hundred and sixty with a BMI of twenty. Today, he weighed who knew what. 
 
 Thankfully, this was n't an uncommon occurrence. Humanity as a whole, did n't lose their mass, it was distributed. 
 Sometimes someone died, sometimes someone lost some weight, and the mass was shared across other people. The trick was to not get disheartened. Keeping a healthy lifestyle was key. But the first thing would be to get clothes. 
 
 Edward called the emergency helpline and asked for clothes. The clothes arrived in twenty minutes. The cop who delivered them was sympathetic. 
 
 `` It happens,'' he said, nodding his head. `` Do n't get discouraged. If there are any issues, please do n't hesitate to call us again. A sudden weight gain like this can cause anxiety or depression. We have people who can help you.'' 
 
 Edward thanked him and worked his huge body into the cave like clothes. He called work and his boss told him to take a couple of weeks off. Edward got two weeks leave for sudden weight gain every year. He did n't feel like work so he accepted the offer and decided to spend the two weeks eating healthy and exercising. 
 
 He called his girlfriend, Sally, to give her the'good' news. 
 `` Oh my god,'' she said, her voice smiling. `` I'll have to break up with you now. How will I find another good boyfriend at such short notice?'' 
 
 Edward growled a little and Sally burst into peals of laughter. `` I'll drop by as soon as I can, okay sweetie?'' she said. `` I'll apply for sympathetic weight loss leave, and then I'll be yours for the week. I hope you're all soft and cuddly?'' 
 
 `` Like you would n't believe!'' Edward could n't help but smile. He loved Sally. `` Listen? Why do n't you drop by for lunch? I'll get some salads and stuff?'' 
 
 `` Sure, but I may be a tad bit late. I have a couple of meetings.'' 
 
 `` Absolutely,'' Edward said and disconnected. 
 
 He tried wearing shoes, but could n't bend that way, so he contented himself by wearing his bedroom slippers. He would look odd, but people understood. He decided to walk to the grocery store- any exercise was good exercise. Hunger growled inside him, but it was n't good to give in to it. The first two days were difficult, and then the body adjusted. 
 
 The sun was high in the blue sky and the light breeze made the trees along the street rustle. In just a few minutes, he could feel sweat building up on his forehead. All this weight would be gone in just a few weeks. 
 
 All the governments across the globe mandated healthy eating and exercise, but some people still did n't do it. They kept adding mass to the global mass index. Once mass was added to it, it never went away. Edward shook his head; it was n't that difficult to be healthy. 
 
 As he turned right at the intersection, an extremely thin woman accosted him. She stank like she had n't showered in days. Her hair was matted with dirt and her eyes gave a glimpse of insanity behind them. 
 
 `` Oy!'' Edward said, trying to sidestep her. 
 
 `` It is you,'' she screamed, almost in his ear. `` It is people like you who are a curse to this world.'' 
 
 `` Look lady, I just gained this weight this morning.'' 
 
 `` That's what you all say,'' she hissed. Her rancid breath made Edward gag. 
 
 He looked around for support, but the intersection was deserted. 
 
 `` You need help,'' he said and pushed her away as gently as he could. 
 
 `` Do n't you dare touch me!'' she said and swung her arm. Edward ducked but her bag hit him on the head. It had something heavy and hard inside it. He fell down on his knees, his body unable to support his weight. 
 
 `` My son lost his life because of people like you,'' she screamed and swung again. There was a bright explosion and then the world went black.
