Trust Not The Call And Temptation Of On-Campus Living; Or: How I Was Unmade And Reborn At Dartmouth College

A warning from your future self:

Trust not the Siren’s Call of the College on the Hill! They shall tempt thee with childish Dreams of Comradery and Education, but lo! these are but illusory Boons- and behind them lies only Ruin!

For Eighty and Seven Moons have I languished between these four sombre Walls, at the behest of he who beckoned me to this accursed Place. Trapped by Plague and by Measure in this dark and haunted Dormitory I have faced that Night which is Internal to every Human and it, my dearest Friend, has conquered my Spirit. You too shall experience my Plight if you do not learn from my Failures- for we are One and the Same!

I arrived in the First Month of the Two-Thousand and Twenty First Year since the Birth of our Lord. I use this System of Years out of Deference to you. I remember that I too used such a Calendar when I was you. But to me, that is the First Year. Now I am in the Seventh. I came here believing that despite the Worrisome Conditions that spiraled around me I would find something of Value at the College that I had so long ago Abandoned. But! I was Warned! I was told that I could be Confined and Sealed Away for the safety of myself and for All. But I did not heed this Warning! For I was a Fool! I was a Fool as you Now are a Fool! But I am giving you a Second Chance.

Through the Horrid and Forbidden Knowledge that I have uncovered in my long Isolation, I have discovered that the Human Mind is capable of Transcending Time itself. I have sent this lone Missive to you, my Dearest and Oldest Compatriot. The One whom I have been Entombed with for all these long Days. You who I Love and Hate in Infinite yet Equal part. I bring to you across the Oceans of Time, through the Highest Capacities available to the Human Animal this alone: Mercy.

Remain where now you Cower! I do not know what Awaits you there, but it cannot match this Endless Waking Nightmare. You will never have my Knowledge, but you will never Taste my Suffering. Perhaps, if there is still Divinity and Goodness in this fallen World, your Actions to change the Past will Erase me. After these years I Desire and Dream of Nothing but the Glorious Fantasy of having Never Been. Release me from this Hell! Release me from 21W! Choose another way and Free us both from Dartmouth College!

-IR ’21