By Leo Lobbestael

To the people who come next,

This place is not what it seems like. I do not even know where to start … it’s all too confusing. But just understand that this place you have entered is not what it seems to be. I have been here a long time. I ate and dined here. I even had a family behind these walls.

I’m not sure how it consumed us like it did. Please do not let it do the same to you, traveler. please do not let it do the same to you! I am certain it could do it to anyone!

I wish I could have been here to meet you. I haven’t met anyone from the outside. Grandfather was from the outside, I hear. But I have actually never met him. He lived behind the cooler, and I never ventured past the front counter.

Do not venture past the front counter, traveler. I do not have time to explain. PLEASE TRUST ME ON THIS! I have seen Grandfather once before, though. He seemed different than other people from inside.  Like he knew something … I saw it in his eyes.

This sort of deep far away look. I never saw that look in eyes before. I wonder if you people have seen that look before? … Anyway, I know what he knew now. I know. And that is why I could not wait for you. I have left and gone out … I found a river about 100 meters from here. I think I’ll build a raft and look for others.

Food seems to be scarce outside, though. I found some metal containers at a place down the street.  I stabbed them with a knife I found near the magazine rack.  There is food in these metal  containers!  Food in metal containers that you can get out by cutting them open! Strange way to hold  food, if you ask me ….

… I found other places, too …. This place is called “Starbucks” … I wonder if people are inside any of the other places? I have checked some of them, but not all.

Anyhow, I am really excited to explore the outside. But before I leave, I want you to know that this place is not what it seems to be. Remember that, traveler! Hold on to that. Tell your family and everyone who travels with you. Because I was trapped inside and the only thing that kept me in was the thought that there was nothing else.

But there is … and you know that and I know that, now ….

Be well, traveler.