Today felt like any other ordinary day. The sun was shining and the birds chirped their usual tune. As I glanced out my bedside window, I admired the perfectly cut grass and carefully swaying leaves. I felt a sense of relaxation, a feeling I haven't felt in a long time. It almost felt too good to be true. Suddenly, this feeling was interrupted by the blaring television in the next room over. Infuriated, I swung my door open to see my brother, Mason, rapidly increasing the volume of the television.
“Will you turn that off Mason?! I can not ever get one second of silence living with you.” I exclaimed whilst rolling my eyes. He ignored me and kept his eyes set on the T.V. I waved my hand to grab his attention, but he would not take his eyes off the screen.
“Mason?” I yelled, struggling to speak over the television. He finally exchanged a quick glance with me and waved me over to the screen. In that brisk moment where we met eyes, I could see the fear and agony that laid within him.
“Gosh, what's wrong, Mason?” I asked, disturbed by his unusual silence. Mason ignored me again. Finally, I walked over to the screen to see what all the commotion was about. As I glanced at the television screen, I began to feel a pit start to grow in my stomach, eating away all my words and thoughts. I could no longer hear the birds chirp and the sun's once iridescent rays turn to eerie shadows.
“It-it couldn't be, ” I mumbled. I looked over to Mason for his reassurance only to be greeted with a blank face staring at the screen as if it was his worst nightmare. I looked back to the screen to make sure I had heard the words correctly.
In a monotone voice, the screen vocalized, “Due to the recent census of the year 2045, there has been a recorded amount of 20 billion human beings on earth. This is categorized as overpopulation. Due to this issue, the act of downsizing will be put into action until further notice. If you are not aware of what downsizing is….” I looked down from the screen, the words trailed away slowly as I lost focus from the television. I could not bear to listen to that robotic voice one last second. They had always taught us the possibility of downsizing in school , but the idea of it actually happening never once came across my head. I regathered myself and focused on the screen again. “Fifty percent of the population will be permanently terminated to control the population. To determine who will be terminated, all will be assigned a color. Red meaning you can continue on with your life on earth, and blue meaning you will be terminated to control the population. Thank you for your attention and understanding.” The program turned off and the local sports channel popped back on. Mason quickly grabbed the remote and turned it off. We both sat there in silence, staring at the blank screen in disbelief.
“Well, there is still a fifty percent chance we both get red!” Mason laughed, trying to lighten the mood. Mason was usually good at lightening the mood, but right now not even the brightest star in the universe could do so.
Two days until doomsday, I thought to myself. It had been a week since the downsizing announcement and ever since the world has felt dull. When I wake up in the mornings, the sun is concealed by clouds and the birds no longer let out their musical chirps. The grass and the trees seem a little less green and the blue skies have turned to a monotonous gray. Mason still cracks a joke here and then, but the laughter afterwards always feels forced. Mason and I constantly check the news for updates, but all we have found is how we will receive our color and when. The newspaper read that “Your T. V or any electronic device will light up your assigned color, either red (safe) or blue (terminated). If you have more than a party of one in your household you will get a split screen of colors labeled with names. -Timothy Reed (President of The United States of America).” I had always wondered what they would do to those who get terminated. I have heard a variety of rumors, one said that it would be painless and others said it is the most pain one could ever imagine. I don’t know what to believe, so I just decide to tune out those thoughts in hope I never have to actually find out. I don't know what I plan to do for the next few days, I have a feeling I'm just waiting for my death and that truly is the most horrifying feeling.
Today is the day, or doomsday, as some would refer to it as. Mason and I have not talked much the past few days. We both seem to be drowning in our thoughts and the anticipation of whether we will be separated, united, or terminated together. I never thought a day like this would take part in my life, but here it is and there is no avoiding it. Mason and I sat down on opposite sides of our leather sofa. As I sat down I felt a spike of coldness run down my spine and the hairs on my arms began to stick up. I could no longer handle the anticipation. We stared at the blank screen for the next few minutes, until a countdown illuminated the room. It began to countdown from thirty. I glanced over at Mason where we met eyes. I wondered whether this would be the last moment we spent together. After locking eyes, we both turned back to the screen. It felt slower than the typical seconds as it counted down from ten. I clenched my fists and held my breath in hope that the timer would just stop and the sun would shine again and the birds would chirp their wonderful tunes. As the timer crept to one, two colors flashed onto the screen. One half of the television was red and the other blue. I stared at my side of the screen. It was blue. My heart had stopped and it felt as if the earth had stopped spinning.
“No. No, it can’t be… it's not fair. They can’t just take you!” Mason said as he stumbled his words. I stared blankly at the screen and the pit previously in my stomach was back except now it swallowed me as a whole. I felt empty as if everything I have lived for has just been taken away like a snap of a finger. I looked over to Mason as a single teardrop fell from his eye and dribbled down his cheek. We locked our eyes one last time and the room was silent, but it felt so loud.
Suddenly, a series of knocks came from the front door. I got up and at this point I realized I had to accept my fate. As I opened the door it felt as if I was opening the door to death. I looked back one last time at Mason, but not because I felt sorrow for leaving him, but jealousy because I was jealous he got to live the rest of his life waking up to the sun's rays and the bird's tunes.