[ WP ] Tropeday 2.5 - Who Wants to Live Forever ?

# # # # # # *All Wounds* 
 
 After they used us as guinea pigs it started trickling down. At first only the super rich could afford it. Now it's free with purchase. The only problem now was making the decision. The preachers stood behind the pulpit and exclaimed that there was a better life waiting for us after death. Meanwhile, debates raged between talking heads on every channel. The people against it screamed most loudly. Their voices slowly ceased. 
 
 `` What do you think about living forever? Would you want to if you could?'' asked Bill. `` Absolutely!'' `` That's what Im talkin' abou...'' ``... not'' interrupted Derrick. `` Why not? `` said Bill. `` Look at me! I'm in constant pain, only have one arm, my family is broken up! I'm looking forward to heaven. Been looking forward to it for years.'' said Derrick. `` Well then why do n't you kill yourself?'' asked Bill. Derrick stormed into the garage. Seconds later there was a loud boom followed by a soft thud. That is something I'd have to live with. For a long time. 
 
 It all started with fly. The average life cycle of a fly is 15-30 days depending on conditions. This one had been around a year so far. It was bigger than a crow. Buzzing around in it's Plexiglas enclosure. It sounded like a quad rotor drone. Ugly too. All those eyes that you normally ca n't see'cause they're too small. Rubbing it's legs together, sucking up fruit smoothies. I wanted to kill it with fire. How did i get here? I'm part of the `` First Group''. That name refers not only to the fact that I was in on the initial testing, but that I was in the 1st Group Special Forces stationed in Okinawa at the time. We were never lied to. Never mislead as to what the outcome might be. After undergoing extensive psych evals for Spec Ops selection they thought we could handle it. I've handled coming close to death so many times that the idea of avoiding it sounded great. So I sat down in the chair and let it happen. No needles, in fact I did n't feel a thing. 
 
 I'm a child in the body of an *old* man that looks like a 20 year old. The world is an amazing place. Things have changed. At one time I thought people were growing farther apart due to technology, so I moved out to the woods. I had a flag that said `` There's no WIFI in the forest, but we have found a deeper connection''. At the time I was right. But we were stuck in a valley. Now we've come to the opposite peak. 
 
 The other night my lady friend and I switched bodies and made love. I never thought I could be that close to someone. Experiencing passion through a new perspective really changed my perception of relationships. The possibilities of this life. I'm glad I'm still here. I once asked my grandmother if, when she was a young girl she ever thought people would be carrying around phones in their pockets. She said no. And it made me want to be there for a future I could not conceive. One that I would n't give up for anything now. Yet, one that I sorely resented for many years. 
 
 I did n't know what life would be like when I was young either. And I ca n't know what it will be like another hundred years from now. What I do know is that this is just the beginning. My past still has n't gone away. There's still dreams that wake me up at night and I have regrets. I got over some but I'm still making new mistakes. There's plenty of time to become a better person. And I am. But I still have doubts and I just ca n't forget. The guilt that lingers grows stronger. Time does not heal all wounds. 
 

