October 2024’s short story of the month

No one noticed when the rate of twin births increased a measly one percent. And no one really thought much about it when it jumped another five percent in only a year. OBGYNs across the world were perhaps the first to notice, and they all wrote articles raving about the new prevalence of twin births.

Another five years after that and births across the world were 75% twins. It was odd, sure, but no one could do anything about it. It was happening on its own. Of course, by the time it reached that percentage, scientists were noticing and trying to figure out why it was happening.

It was baffling, but nothing stopped the rate from increasing. By the time it started, it took only ten years for a year where every birth in the world was twins. It was astounding, but it wasn’t cause for celebration. In fact, quite the opposite. The following year, only twins were born with the exception of one baby, Mary Ann Petry, born December 30.

That was thirty years ago, and since the birth of Mary Ann Petry no other human children had been born — anywhere. Animal populations continued in their natural manner, but humans were quite literally incapable of reproducing, even through medical intervention.

****

“Welcome,” said Mary Ann Petry looking into the camera. “I hope I have your attention.” She smiled her perfect smile and flipped her perfectly coiled blonde hair off her shoulder. “Tonight is the night you’ve all been waiting for,” she smiled again and waited for the applause to die down before she continued. “HealthNow wants to welcome those of you with us in the audience today, and those watching at home.” She waved at the camera and flashed another one of her smiles.

HealthNow was the latest in a line of companies to employ Mary Ann as a spokesperson. She was a novelty and always attracted attention, exactly the kind of person a company wanted for a spokesperson.

Everywhere she went, she attracted attention. She was the youngest person on Earth, and the only non-twin in a generation of twins. When she was a child, there had been several attempts on her life. Before she was three, her parents had to hire a full time around the clock service to guard her. When she was a teen, the offers started pouring in for her to star in commercials. It launched her career as an actress and model. Now, in her thirties, she was the face of many brands and companies.

HealthNow was only the latest in a string of science and medical companies who’d employed her. This was her first time getting to address the entire world, though, and she was enjoying it.

She waited for the applause to die down. She was taking her cues from the camera crew. They were telling her to wait and keep smiling.

Finally, the crew indicated she should start reading the teleprompters again.

“HealthNow has an announcement that is going to change our world.” The crowd grew eerily quiet. Mary Ann read the next line before she spoke. Without meaning to, she read it, but instead of reading it to the cameras, she stopped, and said, “No way!”

Her smile faltered for only a second. She quickly snapped back and read the screen. “HealthNow has found a way to allow women to get pregnant again.” The crowd in the auditorium jumped to their feet cheering. She couldn’t see those at home watching, but she imagined they were having the same reaction.

Someone rushed out and ushered her off stage. They took her back to a waiting room. They didn’t say anything to her, but practically shoved her into the room and slammed the door shut. She was in shock.

Had they really solved it? She was feeling so many things at once. She was scared, happy, and surprised. She hadn’t been warned that she would be making the announcement tonight.

Like the rest of the world, Mary Ann was in shock. Did HealthNow really solve the problem? What would this mean? How soon would children be born? Would she be a mother? A million things and more flashed through her mind before the door opened again.

In walked the head of HealthNow, Mary Ann couldn’t believe it. She’d never met him, but he was another very recognizable face of the medical industry. His company had found a way to cure diabetes and created more behavioral medications than all the other companies combined. They were revolutionizing the world.

He came into the room and sat down. He didn’t speak and kept staring intently at Mary Ann for several uncomfortable minutes. Mary Ann found it unnerving.

“Is something wrong?” She asked.

He shook his head. He reached into his pocket and looked at his phone’s screen. After he read the screen, and returned the phone to his pocket, he sat up straighter and cleared his throat. An assistant appeared from nowhere and sat down a bottle of water.

Mary Ann opened her mouth to ask the assistant a question, but before she could speak, he finally said something.

“Are you ready to change the world?” He asked. “Or I suppose in your case, I should ask if you are ready to change the world again?” He smirked at her.

“I don’t understand what is happening right now. I haven’t changed the world.” She shook her head. She wanted to leave. She didn’t know why, but some voice in her head was telling her to leave, leave now, and go to the safest place she could think of.

“Well, that’s not clear is it.” He wasn’t smiling or smirking. His face had a strange flat appearance. He was in his fifties, but he’d aged well. He had light brown hair which he wore short and parted on the the left side. He had piercing blue eyes, but when he looked at people, they often described his stare as alien or flat. He revealed little emotion or expressions through his face.

Mary Ann shifted uncomfortably. “I would like to know what is going on.” She didn’t beg or show fear. She was trying to be matter of fact.

“You, Mary Ann, are going to be more than the face of HealthNow,” he said. He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “You are going to be first new mother in thirty years. How does that feel?”

Mary Ann was terrified now. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to be allowed to leave. “I’m not sure what you think is going on, but I’d like to leave now. Where is my security team?” She tried to lock eyes with him so he would know she meant it, but as soon as she looked at him, she felt the terror rising again.

He was still leaning forward, and he was looking at her, but she felt like she was being dissected, not just stared at. Another assistant appeared out of nowhere.

“Sir, they’re ready for you.” The assistant didn’t wait for a response.

“Right,” he said. He tapped his hands on his knees. “I’ll see you later.” That was it. He got up and left.

Mary Ann waited for about thirty seconds, but she knew she needed to leave now. She reached for the door, but it was locked. She looked around the room, but it didn’t have any windows. It also only had tiny air-ducts that even a child wouldn’t fit in.

She needed out of this room. She tried banging on the door, but no one came to see why she was distressed. She found her purse. Her phone had no signal. Surely someone would come look for her. She was taken off stage rather suddenly. Her security team was one of the best in the world. They would start looking for her. She never went anywhere without them.

She sat down. She didn’t know what to do. She pulled out her phone anyway and wrote an email to everyone she could think of. She tried to send it, and it failed. She left it that way hoping that as soon as she regained signal it would go through and someone might come find her.

****

In about ten months following their big announcement, HealthNow was once again holding a press conference to announce their success.

He walked onstage holding a newborn baby. He was smiling. The crowd watching was silent. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing. The cameras zoomed in for a close up of the baby. The audience at home had the same reaction. They were silent.

He stopped center stage and held the baby up high. “I present the youngest person in the world!” The crowd didn’t cheer.