[ WP ] As you reach certain milestones in your life , you are allowed to get certain `` upgrades '' for your body . These can range anywhere from an increase of 10 IQ points to angel wings to hardened bones .

The first one was a healing factor. Mark wanted a faster reaction time, but his parents had to agree to that, and he did n't want to explain why. The next day, when Jo and his mates caught Mark after school again, he did n't hold back. His bruises were gone before he got home, his parents none the wiser. 
 The pain did n't go away quite as fast. 
 
 The second one — pitch improvement. Not a perfect pitch, but better than what he had. Mark took it for his second college girlfriend, Kathy, who was always a bit disappointed he was n't that much into music. Sadly, the relationship did n't work out, though he did keep the guitar. 
 
 The third one — metabolism shift. He was gaining weight, and metabolism upgrade not only reversed that, but also got him into running, which Mark enjoyed a lot. 
 
 He met his wife, Lin, through running. It was very romantic — a guy was harassing her, and just as Mark approached to help she snapped, and both the guy and Mark somehow ended up in the dust. After all, she did take the faster reaction time. In a few moments though she realized her mistake, helped him up and apologized. 
 
 Six years later, after a visit to Lin's parents, autocar navigation system malfunctioned and their car lost control and crashed into a lamppost. Fortunately, he had a healing factor. Fortunately, his wife had a bone strength upgrade. 
 
 Fourth — he took a sleep upgrade when they had a baby, leaving a bit more time to spend with the family. 
 
 `` It's the pitch upgrade'' said the doctor, ten years later. `` We ca n't undo it, and the new immortality upgrade is incompatible with it. If we apply it, you will die. I am sorry, but we ca n't give you the immortality treatment.'' 
 
 Mark waited for Lin to complete her estimation. As she left the doctor's office, she shook her head. `` It's the eye color change'' she said. `` It's incompatible''. `` It's pitch upgrade for me'' said Mark. They looked at each other. 
 
 `` What a bunch of sad puppies we are'' said Lin, and they could n't help but laugh. 
 
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 `` Have you ever regretted your upgrade choices?'' asked the reporter. 
 
 `` Of course I did'' said Mark. `` Of course I wanted something else, time to time. But it all ended up well, did n't it? That were my choices, and that is my life, and I regret nothing of it. You ca n't spend all the time wishing for something else. Did you regret yours?'' 
 
 `` No'' lied the reporter.
