In a not-so-distant future, AI supercharged human potential, enabling us to reflect more deeply on our age-old social norms. Not surprisingly, as we started living longer–much, much longer–our social constructs came under some intense scrutiny. Life expectancy wasn’t inching up, it was sprinting upwards. AI-fueled biomedical advancements had added an astonishing 100 years to our lives compared to a century ago. This newfound longevity began to expose some glaring inconsistencies in our societal norms.

Marriage was the first institution to feel the heat. Divorce rates had risen alongside life expectancy. The notion of spending over three decades with the same person seemed tolerable, but an entire century? That was enough to send folks scrambling for the exit. The court system was awash with divorce cases, forcing society to innovate: pop-up divorce stalls appeared on every street corner, high school seniors were given the power to officiate divorce proceedings. It was clear we needed a major rethink of the ’till death do us part’ promise in an era when ‘life’ meant a possible 140 years.

Following a global referendum, the Marriage Law was overhauled. Marriage contracts turned from lifelong commitments into 15-year rolling agreements, offering the option to renew or peacefully opt out at each milestone. With this revolutionary change, divorce rates took a nosedive. A 15-year commitment seemed far less daunting when faced with a life expectancy of 140.

Enter Dave, the man in charge of Ava, on the cusp of his first marriage contract renewal. Married to Jennifer for 14 years and ten months, the contract deadline loomed. They had a beautiful child, being groomed in a state-run boarding school, a setup designed to insulate young minds from inherited biases and equip them to adapt to the world’s rapidly changing landscape.

Amidst his introspection, Dave sought the comfort of his in-sofa mini-fridge, grabbing a can of BeerZero – a trailblazer in the beverage industry, offering zero calories but full-strength alcohol. As he dialed the can’s alcohol limit to ‘moderate tipsiness,’ he sipped, pondering his next move.

He flicked on his 3D glass screen, tuning into the hit late-night show, “Late Late Life Crisis with Ivona Carlson”. Tonight, Ivona’s guest was a lively centenarian who’d decided to opt-out of her marriage contract after a whopping 75 years. As Dave sipped his BeerZero, he considered his own looming decision.

“I married in my mid-20s, stayed with the same man for 75 years. At some point, I had to stop and ask, ‘What am I gonna do with my second life?’” The guest shared, drawing a burst of cheers from the audience. “We used to raise kids, look after grandkids, slowly losing our energy and sanity till we died. But we don’t have to live like our parents did anymore!”

The crowd continued cheering as Ivona chimed in, “The whole point of living long is that your in-laws live just as long too! But now, with fully automated household chores, we have less to distract ourselves and actually have to interact with these folks!” She paused before adding the punchline, “People change. Shouldn’t our choices be reversible too?”

“I think I’m going back to school. The re-education programs seem exciting and it’s a great place to meet new people. After that, who knows? I have another lifetime to figure it out!” The centenarian replied, leaving the audience in peals of laughter.

As Dave, now moderately tipsy but well-hydrated, watched the show, he considered his situation. Both he and Jennifer had carved

out their own paths and fostered their individual ambitions. They enjoyed each other’s company, free from the baggage that a century-old marriage might impose. They had adapted well to this new age and had established a comfortable rhythm together. The thought of stepping out of this comfort zone did not appeal to Dave. However, he understood it took two to tango. Although he was clear in his mind, he knew this was a decision they had to make together. At least, he mused, clarity often came after a can of BeerZero.

The screen flashed as the show continued, with Ivona offering another comedic quip. Despite the laughter and levity, Dave couldn’t help but appreciate the importance of the conversation. Marriage had evolved; society had evolved. As he contemplated his upcoming decision, he couldn’t help but feel grateful for this newfound flexibility. Life was long, change was constant, and there was comfort in knowing there was always room for a second act.

Maybe it was the BeerZero talking, or perhaps it was the persuasive arguments of the centenarian on Ivona’s show, but Dave found himself leaning towards renewal. After all, wasn’t there some truth to the old saying, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?’ Still, he resolved to discuss it with Jennifer before making any final decision. In this new era of extended lifetimes and rolling marriage contracts, the decision had to be mutual, respectful, and above all, in sync with the times.