[ WP ] Early years in life have been taken for granted , reffirmed by seeing those around us living into their seventies , eighties , and nineties . Recent findings revealed that due to atmospheric changes , the next generation 's life expectancy has plummeted to 25 . You just had your first born .

`` 25. Really?'' I was sitting in my couch, eyes locked onto my small Alexia. She had been born a month ago, and we had been happy as ever. Good things do n't last though, and Dave told us of recent medical studies, including the shocking revelation that was leaked to the public. I'd rather not have heard of it, but it was clear. 
 
 `` Yep, live expectancy worldwide is at 25 years for the next generation. Seems absurd, right?'' Dave replied. `` To think that we will likely survive our own childen, to maybe even outlive our grandchildren... This truly is fucked up.'' 
 
 `` Survive? If the atmosphere changes, we will be fucked first. We have been breathing in the stuff for longer. We may live more years than them, but we sure as hell wo n't survive them.'' 
 
 `` Come on, I read that shit like crazy, man. Do n't lecture me, I know what I am saying. Some radical chemical is fucking with the genetic code stability or something. We ai n't dying from it, but the next generation is fucked. Well, the poor ones, at least.'' Dave laughed. `` To think that the industry fucks up humanity, and yet we praise them and pay for their stuff. We deserve this, do n't we...'' 
 
 I was silent. Yes, maybe, with all the mistakes, all the fuckups we had done, we deserved such a fate. But the next generation, Alexia and every other child born into this world, they did n't deserve such a fate. 
 
 `` There is nothing we can do to change it? I mean, is the entire fucking world affected?'' 
 
 `` Yep. Malaysia, China, Russia, Europe, even goddamn Somalia. Surprisingly, gases do spread with no regard to borders. And before you ask, no, this is no enviromental movie bullshit, we ca n't just *'' Plant ALL the Trees'' * and the problem evaporates. Thing is unchangeable, especially for her. She already had inhaled this stuff.'' 
 
 Silence filled the room. While there was noise outside, in the room was little but the dark, quiet atmosphere, and Alexia's noises, indicating sleep. 
 
 `` You know, at least we have positives. I know it sounds weird, but this genetic instability means they do n't just rapidly age, they still get their childhood and their early adult life. Would suck if they could n't at least live their life fully.'' Dave said. 
 
 I could n't answer. Imagining Alexia looking older than me was unbearable, but acknowledging that this had a good side to it felt like being thankful for this mess. Dave seemed to understand, and stopped talking. He knew I needed emotional support, and he was happy to stay with me for now. 
 
 After a while, I was bored, and needed some noise to distract me from my thoughts, so I turned on the television. I immediately noticed my error. 
 
 `` *Welcome to Channel 9 News. My name is Barbera Amerson and here are the news of the day. In large parts of the world the riots continue. The camps are split between the part that wants to focus on shutting down the responsible industries that cause the emission of Protonic Acid and the other pard that rallies for more lax regulations of age-related laws, in order to ensure the next generation's survival. We have Marcus Delamere live in New York-*'' 
 
 I turned off the television. `` Fucking christ. This is messed up.'' 
 
 `` Well, they have a reason to rebel. In a way, I am surprised you are not out there with them. She went out there, so why not you?'' 
 
 `` Well, we were very different in terms of politics. But why would I protest against the industry. It is n't gon na happen, and even if it were to, the atmosphere is already gone to shit. So, yeah. Unless we dig out a planet we can all travel to for some reason, we are fucked anyways.'' 
 
 `` Okay... But what about the more lax laws? If we already fucked it up for them, why not help them in some way?'' Dave asked. 
 
 I could n't believe it. Dave had book smarts, but in terms of everything else, he was incredibly stupid. `` Dave... What do you think these laws will change?'' 
 
 `` Well, obviously they will lower the working age and reduce the age to drive, vote and similar. I do n't see whats wro-'' 
 
 I interrupted him. `` Think about it. 25. Every single being that is not already born is going to die by 25, maybe 30 if they are lucky. You yourself told me the people did n't magically speed up in growth, so that means they would still reach puberty by about age thirteen or fourteen. Now, if a parent needs to raise someone for 13 or fourteen years, and they only get to the age of 25, what does that mean. Come on, dave, you can do simple maths, ca n't you?'' I got more agitated. 
 
 Dave, on the other hand, had to focus. `` That means they get to the age of 12 before raising children...'' 
 
 `` Fucking bingo! So, basically, every single person out there, rallying and grouping up for the lowering of ages is basically saying to lower the age of working full-time to 12, to lower the age of voting for something to 12, to lower the age of fucking intercourse to motherfucking twelve years! You think this shit is normal?'' 
 
 `` But... Is n't it necessary by then?'' Dave asked. 
 
 `` Do n't worry, necessity is of no matter to them, besides being a point to rally behind. *It will be necessary to lower the age of consent. It will be necessary to create a more agressive sexual education. It will be necessary to force children into procreation. And at last, since all of that is not helping, they will say it will be necessary to force children to fuck adults! * If you think it really is necessary, then you got swept up by the masses. Think for yourself for one.'' 
 
 `` How? You just told me that they need to grow up for at least thirteen years. How could you get someone to grow up without parents of that age?'' 
 
 `` You focus too much on one set of parents. The best way would be a repurposing of the parental system, to make adults, and I mean over eighteen years old, volunteer or draft into parental service. You will have to take care of children for a while, and then they get passed on to the next set of guardians. It sucks, but it would be better than the asinine things those people out there come up with.'' 
 
 Silence filled the room once again, and I tried to calm down. Dave had the heart in the right place, but he was too naive. 
 
 After half an hour of just sitting there, I spoke again. `` She is for the lowering of age restrictions, you know? She said that it was more of a social standard than an physical one, and so she wanted to lower the age. Even after I told her the same thing, you know what she said?'' 
 
 Dave gave no answer. 
 
 `` *You are too antiquated in your thoughts. You decide based on our moral system, which will almost certainly not exist after we are gone. Hey, maybe she will like it. *'' I recited her words. `` This still disgust me. I am honestly fearing for Alexia. I ca n't begin to fathom why people rally for this. Are there really that many people that agree that kids shagging each other is okay, desired even? If the riots come and go without any law changing, does that mean that people will try to get it to happen anyways? Do I have to fear my own wife, hooking her up with some boy from her class, or even a man who would pay for the experience? I am scared, Dave.'' 
 
 Dave shook his head. `` I do n't know man. I really do n't know anymore. This is just fucked up beyond belief...''
