Hold Back Tomorrow

"Hold Back Tomorrow" by Kris Neville is a science fiction story that takes place in a futuristic world where people can enjoy extremely long lives, it examines the subjects of youth, aging, and the yearning to continue young. The story follows Margy, who is scared of growing old and approaching death; she contrasts her young innocence with the difficulties and duties that come with maturity. The main plot is about Margy's relationship with Clyde, with whom she shares a loving but complex friendship as they deal with the stresses of becoming adults. As Clyde wants to marry Margy to advance their maturity, Margy struggles between her love for him and her dread of losing her childhood and naiveté. Margy battles with societal standards and her own internal conflicts about aging throughout the story, which results in instances of desperation and vulnerability. In the end, Margy's desire to remain young emphasizes the wider existential questions of identity, love, and the unavoidable flow of time, all tied together when faced with life's harsh truths and resulting in a moving conclusion that emphasizes her need for unending youth.