Tithonus’s Curse

“The joined forces of the United States, Korean Exile Force, and Japanese Self-Defense Forces celebrate the successful retaking of Yokohama and Chiba cities in the ensuing battle for Japan from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army — ”

“Catalonian rebels remain in Madrid for their trial in the Spanish Supreme Court — ”

“Riots are taking place in all Brazilian major cities after the Brazilian president signed the controversial nanotechnology laws that allows microscopic robots to cut the Amazon rainforest for lumber exports — ”

The old man who laid on the hospital bed sighed as news headlines spoke to him in English, a language he could barely understand but knew has gained importance.

“Anjera, terebi o keshite kudasai,” he commanded in his frail voice. [Angela, please turn off the TV.]

The flat screen, one that almost looked like a non-transparent window, switched black. “Shōchishimashita,” said the female A.I. [Sure.]

It had been days since he was confined to the hospital bed, 14, maybe 15 days since China unleashed a biological weapon, weakening the defenses around his home city of Sendai. But, thank nanotechnology, the Japanese military government successfully developed a defense against the pathogen that he knew was intended to weaken the civilian population towards capitulation.

But where did this led him? He was, after all, an old man. A frail man, almost centenarian, with weakened bones, limping limbs, barely held together by wonders of technology that he probably could not understand.

A loud bang snapped him out of his thoughts. An explosion, somewhere in the city. He would just shake it off — ever since war broke out over the South China Sea and the allies opening up a new front in Taiwan, Korea, and Japan, it has become a regular occurrence, especially after the Diet moved from Tokyo to Sendai when it fell to the Chinese.

However, those bombings would often come to him as reminders, that the world will always be an unhappy place, wherein people will always compete, whether for resources or power that left people like him always uncertain of what is coming next. Another war, another controversy that he should not worry about yet is still somehow affected, another loss, either or neither of the three, really.

As a young man, he used to love uncertainty. After all, it is what brought him excitement to the otherwise mundane human life. But as the famous philosophical proverb goes, too much of something is not good. Sometimes, he would be just exhausted, having lived a long life.

He wished he could just depart peacefully from this world, all of what he wanted to do in life essentially complete and is just waiting for the moment he is waiting for.

But with everything going on, it seems as though he would not get his wish. The chaotic excitement that once fueled him now got to him. Everyday, he would worry about the ongoing war, the constant explosions that bothered him at night. If only he could just leave while the world is in chaos, but then he reminisced what the doctors told him.

“Namamonoheiki to tatakau yō ni sekkei sa reta nanobotto wa mata, anata no jumyōwonobasu-yō ni sekkei sa rete imasu,” the doctors told him. [Designed to combat biological weapons, nanobots are also designed to extend your lifespan.]

“Arigatō, hakase,” he replied, in the back of his heart the pain of not granting his wish to die peacefully.

He sighed one more time.

“Anjera, itsu heiwa ni shina reru no?” He asked the A.I. [Angela, when can I die peacefully?]

“Mōshiwakearimasen?” the robotic voice replied. [I’m sorry?]

The man sighed. “Jinsei wa noroidesu…” [Life is a curse…]