Dear 2025,

My name is Kaine, and I’m writing to you from 2052 here in Dev. I left Earth when I was only 15 years old—funny how time flies. It seems like yesterday when I was packing my bag and jumping out the window of my room. Papa was on a trip, and Mom was sleeping on the couch in the living room. Deni and Kamso were playing video games in their room, and Roger, my dog, refused to bark as I dashed through the backyard, making my way to the Dev Base.

You could say I ran away.

I wanted to escape that life. I hated myself. I hated how I looked. I hated how others at school made me feel. Worst of all, I hated that I couldn’t express myself to anyone because they wouldn’t understand me. I had always envisioned a perfect world where I wasn’t fat and ugly, a world where I wasn’t timid and shy, a world where I could be accepted for who I was. But if not, at least a world where I wasn’t criticized, ridiculed, or bullied for being myself. That’s why I didn’t hesitate to take the red pill, as Dev had given me an opportunity to escape from this harsh reality called Earth.

When I first came to Dev, I was marveled at how different life was here. It was everything I imagined life to be—and much more. There wasn’t any discrimination or criticism. I saw a lot of people like me who I could relate to and share my experiences on Earth with, and they understood my story. They didn’t criticize me. They didn’t judge me. It was like living my alternate universe.

I am currently 37 years old. I work as a Data Analyst for Dev Company, and I am happily married to Nicholas Benjamin, who I met during my college days, and we are happily blessed with our baby boy, Nicholas Jnr.

I am grateful for how my life turned out. I am grateful for my adoptive parents, who showed me love and encouraged me to love myself. Although I sometimes miss my family—especially Papa, who I adored—I always hoped that the letter I left behind would explain the decisions I made and help them understand my choice to leave Earth.

I am writing this letter to the past as part of our developmental projects at Dev. Apparently, we at Dev are running a test for machines that can transmit messages to the past. It is really mind-blowing how much technology has advanced over here. I am holding on to the hope that this letter would reach you in 2025 and that you finally find peace and rest knowing that I am well and happy at Dev. I am now a better version of myself, and I do not regret a thing.

With love,
Yours Always,
Kaine Ojukwu.

Written by Onah Ogochukwu