I spent some time at the history library yesterday, reading what things were like long before science came up with a way to keep us alive forever.

Forever.

I was born in 2753 and look pretty good for being 247. My wife is 245. But, according to what I read, raising kids, working, wars, illnesses, and the government was a mess back then, but the one thing I found amusing, or perhaps interesting; the kids. When they grew up, they left home and made their own life. I found that rather intriguing. Since here, it doesn’t matter how old they get, they stay home, even after they get married. And thinking on that, I smile wryly and wish they would leave home. It would allow my wife and I some added privacy, something we don’t get very much of, since we have 3 sons and 2 daughters, add in three wives, two husbands and 14 more kids and you get the picture. Oh, and my wife’s and I, parents, and the parents who are now my in-laws. This is determined by range of income and year of birth. And since my wife and I are technically the oldest, and we bring in the most money, they all stay here. It’s like living with a village of idiots at times.

But there’s another reason for this. Since no one dies any longer, the population has quadrupled alone in the last seventy-five years. If I remember right, there is something like 800 billion people on the planet. Can we say sardines?

We all work, that is if you think getting on your video-wrist compact computer and saying two words, “Good Morning” is work. Honestly, that’s all we have to do to let the government know that we haven’t moved, haven’t taken on any unnecessary risks, fled to another country. And we get paid for it! Pretty simple way of doing things. Two words, seven times a day for $5,000 a week, and no taxes!

The wars ended about fifty years before I was born, and a worldwide pact was agreed to. Which, according to history, makes this the longest ever stretch of no one having to die defending others right to freedom.

Crime is at a dead end when I turned ten due in part to medical science creating a brain chip placed inside everyone’s head that does not allow the thinking process to commit any crime, large or small.

But I still like the idea of telling the kids to find their own place. Hold on a second, my wife has to tell me something.

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Okay, just found out we’ll have two new additions to the household before too long. And I mean, soon. See, that’s another thing modern medical science has done. Accelerated the pregnancy from 9 to 3 months.

The more I think about living for forever, the more I’m thinking dying would be a better option.

Maybe I’ll just leave. Grab the wife and find a Motel 6 that has no kids and I won’t leave the light on either.

I emerge from the daydream, and a bright sun casts light from the sky, the same sun that has always shined on earth.

But this was not the earth I know. I found myself in the midst of a riot, of shouts and screams and people crying. Violence, everywhere. Attacking each other with weapons I had never seen in my life. Massive guns sending lazers into the sky, silent bomb shells that burned the skin of whoever they touched, and more.

As a doctor, I immediately rushed to the wounded. One woman, a young adolescent with dirty clothes and unkempt hair, lay bleeding in the anarchy. I knew immediately her wounds were fatal, and she would need to reach the hospital right away.

“Anyone! This girl needs an ambulance! Call 911!”

No one answered, with all the screaming and crying as bodies fell. I couldn’t hear anything in the midst of the chaos. I picked the girl up in my arms, running through the destruction and debris, to the outskirts of the riot.

An elderly man sat on the silver bench, watching the violence, as if it amused him. He stared at me when I placed the girl down. His features were odd, disformed at sharp angles underneath his great white jacket. With black gloves on his hands, sunglasses covering his eyes, and a fadora to hide his face, though it felt like summer. The whir of gears seemed to be coming from him, though how that could be, I don’t know. I don’t typically ask people about personal manners, unless it required treating their health.

“Hello, sir?! Sorry to disrupt your day,” I started, unsure of what I was saying, focused on the girl and checking her vitals. “Could you call 911? This girl needs an ambulance.”

“Ha-Ha-Ha!” he answered, in a robotic tone. “I cannot call a number that does not exist! Funny human!”

“What do you mean? Seriously, are you joking around with me when this girl is in serious danger? I am a doctor you know!”

“What is a doctor?” He asked.

I quickly became frustrated with this crazy old man. It felt like I was talking to a automatic phone operator.

“Look! I don’t have time for this, as my profession, I-”

But before I could finish, he interrupted me. “History check, complete. Doctor: a profession that was responsible for treating and administration medicine to the sick-”

I didn’t have time for games, so I interrupted his non-sensical ramble.“Great, you know what I am now! Surprise! Now could you call-?”

He continued, as if I hadn’t said anything. ”-but it has been 250 years since the last doctor died, as there became no need for medical professionals after the New Immortal Era, which started in the year 2750.”

I was dumbfounded. No need for doctors? What was wrong with him? Surely this man has dementia! After the bleeding girl, I better get him to the hospital too!

But as soon as I turned back to the girl, her eyes opened instantaneously, staring up at me with bright red irises, and the sound of whirring gears grew stronger. I saw her body mold and shape, healing itself in mere moments. Her blood remained on her clothes but she was completely fine otherwise!

She gasped. “What the fuck, you pervert! Shame on you, taking advantage of me in my Knock Out Phase! Screw off, horny old man!”

She pushed me away, got up off the ground and stormed away. She just got up and left! After a life-threatening injury!

“She...she just healed herself!”

“Yes, the wonders of the New Immortal Era.”

“HOW?! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!!!!!” I was shocked, shocked beyond all comprehension. In my state, I didn’t realize how loud I was screaming. I took a deep breath, focusing on the air rush into my nose.

“Well, Mr. Doctor, that is all because of nanotechnology. I will explain to you in simple terms, for I see you have limited understanding before reaching a confused state.”

It felt like his eyes were scanning me.

Did he just call me dumb?

“All children, when they are born, receive a total of three shots of nanotechnology that will heal them throughout their entire lifespan, which are called:

1. Vaccine, which deals with immune responses and fighting infections of all kinds

2. Growth, allowing cell regeneration to cover wounds or trauma.

3. Supply, which provides the body with the materials needed for basic survival to achieve the ideal level of homeostasis.

The nanobots and particles of these 3 injections work 24/7 because they are self-sustaining. They complete the job of medicine, from within, at all times. As such, humans have now become-”

“Immortal.” I breathed.

“Yes, hence we now live in the New Immortal Era of human existance. I have now completed my background check. Results come back stating you are from the year 2019, correct?”

“Yeah, I’m from 2019. What year is it now?”

“It is the year 3000.”

“I’m dreaming! I have to be dreaming!”

“Well, no. You must have suddenly come through an accidental time opening in the space-time continuum. These situations have been reported more recently with the new time travel technology. That is why this riot is happening, if you were not curious about that, Mr. Doctor. People are missing loved ones because the technology is novel and no one is sure of how to use it. It has been banned by the government, who promised the people with missing loved ones that they would be returned to them. The issue has not been solved and people are still missing since the technology has been open to the public, 5 years ago. Riots from angry civilians are popping up everywhere!”

“Can I go back? Back to 2019?!”

“Well, you will have to send in an application to the government, multiple applications actually, to prove your case. The ban on time travel is making it more challenging for anyone to go back.”

“So you’re saying I’m stuck here?!” I say hyserically.

“Yes, you are practically stuck here. Welcome, Mr. Doctor, to 3000! I hope you enjoy your stay!”

I tried to argue as he wrote me the ticket.

I told the police officer that it wasn’t my fault. I was just driving drunk.

They always pick on me.

But he wouldnt buy it.

“You old farts are always ‘I just slipped off the rail’ or ‘not my fault there was too many pills in the bottle’. But i seen it all before”. He says, closing the sitation book.

He hands me the slip.

“Pay the fine, and don’t mess about. You know the rules. Next time I see you with a broken spine or a ruptured lung I’m taking you in, Buddy ” .

And he drove off.

I wobbled home. The medication will kick in soon. I’ll be just another old fart again, and not a dead old fart.

When I walk by the Johnson’s, I see Henry jogging.

JOGGING!

Who is he kidding?! I saw him with his head up the stove the day before.

I want to know what fine did he get?!

Or maybe he’s trying to pull off a massive embolism or something?!...

Might as well do a Benjamin Franklin and try to fly a kite with all the good it will do ya...

Well, better go to the post office and pay the fine. Maybe I’ll get lucky...