The first anomalies appeared at the end of the twenty-first century, although back then no one really knew what it really was. Different terms were used to describe these anomalies, the often conclusion was a severe depression that kept the patients unable to have emotions.

Lack of empathy, or remorse, or fear scared both the patient and the people around because these anomalies often ended up doing outrageous things in a desperate attempt to feel something, forced to believe they had to experience something. Everyone talked about feelings yet they could not comprehend any of this.

Oddly, the feeling of not fitting in can be forced into one's head instead of being one own's.

The people around the anomalies always tried to help, both worried and scared.

"Why is my kid abusing of substances?"

"Why is my kid cutting herself?"

"Why did he beat that kid to an unconscious mess?"

"Why does she always look at me with those empty eyes?"

"Why does he torture animals?"

"Why did she kill her own brother?"

Medication and therapy, however, did not help these cases to feel anything on their own and their destructive and abusive behaviours did not stop for they were forced to believe they had to feel.

Most of the time these patients ended up committing suicide as their lives had no meaning and all they could actually feel was emptiness.

With time and as technology developed it was discovered these patients were actually victims of mutation. It wasn't hereditary, just an anomaly in their genetic code that inhibited their brains from completing the chemical reactions that resulted in what normally people called feelings. Without the fulfilment of the reaction, there were no feelings which made these individuals outcasts. Some theories pointed it was the consequence of all the radioactivity in technology: mobile phones, microwave, television... They blamed it on all those things. The answer was still not clear.

In addition, there are different degrees of anomaly. Some are unable to feel any emotion whatsoever, some others are void of certain rage of emotions, some only lack a few particular emotions. It always depends on the case.

But in this life it is all about evolution, and even mutations do also evolve to survive and fit in; after all, only the strong survives. Somehow, to compensate and help the anomalies to survive in their world, these acquired the ability to take emotions from other people, allowing them like that to actually feel something on their own. They called this process 'borrowing,' although in reality it is stealing some of the emotions from others.

However, this ability can go high wire and end up in casualties, for that reason it needs to be controlled. Technology allows nowadays for them to learn how to use their ability responsibly while keeping all anomalies monitored.

This ability became a double edged sword because for people who could not feel anything, having the ability to feel for some moment became addictive and many ended completely lost to this, even overdosing. Just like any other drug addict, there became emotion addicts. This reinforced the need to keep all anomalies monitored and controlled.

For the sake of borrowers, their mutation must be kept secret. No one likes knowing someone is stealing their emotions as these are something so personal, and no one feels comfortable next to someone who isn't able to feel anything on their own.

Nowadays, these anomalies can lead an almost normal life. The mutation can be found even before they are born, which will allow them to be trained and prepared to responsibly borrow emotions without endangering their lives or anyone else's, also educating them in the ethics of the process.

Some anomalies form families, some seclude themselves, some live short and reckless lives, some never accept their luck, some give up, but the choice is always theirs to make. Their lives are their responsibility and they choose how to live it. They might not have emotions of their own, but that does not stop other people from developing feelings for them and it's always in their hands what they do about this.

At the end of the day it is not just about the fate you were given but what you do with it and even anomalies have a choice. Once might say they have the upper hand for they can make a decision with a cold and objective head without feelings getting in the way. The debate is still ongoing.

Ultimately, only oneself can decide what kind of life to lead.

❖

And that's the prologue of this story, just to give a bit of context. Next week I plan to post the first chapter and introduce the characters. Look forward to it!

Bel, xx