The author is now 50 years old but looks 85 due to severe kidney problems from lack of water. Water scarcity has devastated society - there are no trees, rivers are dry, and people can only drink half a glass of water per day. Assaults over water are common and the population suffers from poor health and early death due to dehydration, radiation, and pollution. The author feels guilty for not doing more to address environmental warnings when younger and believes life on Earth will soon be impossible due to irreversible environmental destruction.