In this dystopian world, everyone is so obsessed with anti-aging that they have billboards around every corner promoting one product or surgery. All restaurants serve flavorless food and each one will say their slop has better vitamins or better health benefits. You rarely see someone over the age of eighteen who hasn't had plastic surgery, and even children can get surgeries. Some parents push for their children as young as four to get the "ageless face lift".

No longer are there any cars, people walk everywhere they go - but in tubes so they don't get sun exposure (a study a few years ago showed that your skin ages by one day for every minute you're out in the sun). The sun is rarely seen though as it's hidden behind a thick layer of clouds and smog.

Now in schools, they teach of the benefits of anti-aging food, skincare, exercise routines, and surgeries. Phones are not held in hands any longer but now a screen directly in front of someone's face - it can appear and disappear quickly but it's always connected to the person.

You won't see anyone over 40 or at least anyone who looks over 40. You also won't hear anyone talk about those who are now "old" as speaking of age brings about age. The government offers "assisted agelessness" to anyone who looks old. It's not said out loud but everyone knows you die during that process, anyone who goes for it never returns. Most people willingly and happily sign up for that because "what's the point of living like this" or "I can't live like this" or my personal favorite "how can I live".

But, I will say not everyone goes through with the assistance so willingly. I remember it like yesterday and yet it was three years ago. The officers, "Assistants Guarding Everyone", came in and were dragging a man behind them. Four officers walked in and were dragging the man by his ankles, the ankles were thin and you could see veins.

The A.G.E. showed no outward compassion, not that you'd be able to see it - with their black and white body armor that covered them head to toe but was somehow form-fitting and considered to be stylish. The man though being dragged was not in pristine condition like them. His pants were tattered in spots with some blood and mud on them. His flannel button down was just as dirty but the blood blended in with its red patterns, the buttons were partially undone, and underneath he had a black shirt that looked to be wet.

The most shocking part about the man was his face. Though, many parts of him shocked and disgusted me. His hands - so wrinkled and baggy with crooked knuckles. His arms had more hair than I'd ever seen and later I learned sun spots and bruises. His veins could be seen all over. But his face, oh his face, it was a sight to behold. It's hard to describe, I couldn't do it justice. He was by far the oldest person I had ever seen, and that's saying a lot, since I work at a facility that facilitates the "assisted agelessness".

The A.G.E. stormed up to my desk, one flopped down a clipboard with the man’s information. Harold Richard Thompson

Age 63

Crimes: Public nuisance, reckless endangerment of civilians, treason

Notes: Attempted assistance in 20XX when he was 39 but refused adamantly and then went missing. Once located assistance must occur ASAP.

There was more to the packet but one of them growled at me to hurry up and process him in the system. I had frantically nodded and did so - glancing at the man from the corner of my eye. He was unconscious and then were still holding him by the ankles, his head looked to be the main culprit for all the blood on him.

The computer beeped and they gave me a quick nod and dragged him past the sliding doors. I heard the man begin to yell and plead for help but instead I looked down at my desk. I heard the patients in the waiting room whispering - how that man was clearly disturbed and how traumatizing it was for them to see him.

That day I didn't shred his packet like I was meant to. I took it home. I looked at it so much the pages have had faded. I kept looking at his picture - I wanted to not forget him like I had for everyone else. He, looked so strange, so old and yet like a child - unaltered by procedures.