[ WP ] `` If love could have saved you , you would have lived forever . ''

Scientists had been looking for the Elixir of Life, the Fountain of Youth for centuries. From alchemists wanting to discover the elusive Philosopher's Stone to modern chemists testing for ways to extend a person's lifespan. All of it was in vain. Nobody managed to reveal a method to prevent the gradual degradation of DNA that lead to errors in cell replication. The gradual breaking down of organs and systems that appeared over time. Even as other diseases and conditions were eradicated, aging itself became the only natural cause of death. 
 
 Until the day an accidental discovery was made on a side project. A pharmaceutical researcher had been testing various compounds in an attempt to find a mixture that would give the user an affectionate outlook towards other people without any significant mental or neurological detrimental effects. Despite his supervisor's insistence on calling the project by the name assigned by the corporate office, he always referred to it as “ Project: Love Potion. ” 
 
 The researcher had exposed a number of blood samples to a new mixture. It was a process he had completed numerous times before on countless samples. First, directly mix the blood with an amount of the latest drug and check for any clotting or break down of red or white blood cells. Since there were no more than the most basic of preservatives, this would happen eventually. It was his job to verify this decay did n't occur any faster in the exposed samples than it did in the control sample. 
 
 Over the duration of his 10 hour shift, the quiet researcher had repeated his routine actions more times than he cared to count. He was mentally and physically exhausted. Just one more batch to run, then he could go home for the night. He placed each sample under the lens of its own microscope. He leaned back and watched the digital displays connected to each scope for signs of decay. Five samples plus one control, six monitors arrayed above the counter. He stopped the timers automatically activated on each scope at the first sign of cellular death. 
 
 The corporate bigwigs did n't care for the exact time for each sample, just whether or not the chemical caused problems in the blood more or less than 10 % faster than the control sample broke down on its own. The researcher made the required notes in his log as each sample was considered “ dead. ” One particular sample remained active long after the others were little more than biological waste, even the control. The researcher simply noted in the log that sample RC-152 had survived longer than the control and started shutting lights off. His weariness caused him to forget the samples on the microscopes and the digital displays still active. 
 
 The researcher returned the next morning. In his mind, it was far too early considering the late hour he left yesterday. However, the corporate machine kept running, regardless of who it ground up in the process. He turned the lights in the lab on and logged into the secure computer before noticing the batch of samples still on the scopes, the congealed, dried pools of blood displayed on five of the six monitors. One monitor still showed fresh blood. No more decayed than if it had been drawn just moments ago. After spending the night at room temperature in an open container, there was no reason it should look any different than the other samples. Yet here it was. Red blood cells just as round as ever. No signs of clotting or separation of the plasma and other components. This was something the researcher had never seen before. 
 
 The researcher made a phone call to his supervisor. She would want to know about this. Besides, it was above his paygrade to figure out where their sample procurement procedures had broken down. Let the corporate folks figure out what to do with RC-152. 
 
 That one phone call led to months of calls, texts, urgent emails, and video conferences. Finally, one executive reads a report to a highly paid corporate vice president. He scans over his own personal notes before speaking words he had been rehearsing while waiting in the VP's outer office. 
 
 “ Sir, it appears like we have confirmation of the discovery. After a number of scans and verifications by labs independent of each other, it was determined that sample RC-152 contained a previously undiscovered trace hormone produced when one experiences significant physical and emotional affection. Apparently this particular blood sample was drawn by a nurse from a young man that had had a crush on her since they were both young neighbors. He proposed to her immediately afterwards, using some line about her taking his blood after having his heart for so long. 
 
 “ This hormone reacted to the drug being tested in that lab and, essentially, stopped all cellular decay. Cells still replicated and died naturally, but there none of the errors occurred in the cellular DNA that normally causes samples to become nonviable. ” 
 
 The VP looks up from the reports before him. He does n't understand any of the medical jargon printed on the pages. He had studied accounting and business management, not chemistry or any of the micro related sciences. He paid others to know that stuff. 
 
 He stares the executive in the eyes and waves his liver-spotted hand over the sheets arrayed across his desk. “ Break it down for me. What does all of this mean? In simple, layman's terms. ” 
 
 “ Basically, we have discovered the Fountain of Youth. With this, people can live nearly forever. The only catch is that the chemical reaction is fueled by Love. ”
