Up for Renewal

"Up for Renewal" by Lucius Daniel is a mid-20th century science fiction story that dives into a world where people can turn back the clock on aging. The story examines the complicated feelings and moral questions that come up when people can become young again, especially when it affects their love lives. Howard Kent, a 65-year-old who's had rejuvenation treatments, worries about getting old, especially since his wife Leah is much younger. As he gets ready for his third treatment, he's scared about how long he'll live and if the treatment will even make his life better. Leah doesn't seem to care much about aging and wants to stay young, which causes problems in their marriage as they talk about Howard's real age and what might happen if he gets another treatment, bringing up big questions: Is youth really that important? Why are we so scared of getting old? And how do we deal with the pressure to look young in a world where you can just reverse aging?