[ WP ] Everybody who turns 25 learns a reality shattering secret about the world . Nobody has ever leaked this secret to somebody under 25 . Today is your 25th birthday .

You read about it on the internet, a big secret that you ca n't learn until you are 25. Everyone has their theories of course, but no one knows the truth. I know the truth now... I wish I did n't but I do. Everyone under 25 has got it wrong, if only they knew. It's not aliens, government conspiracies, or mutants, no none of that stupid shit. The truth, it's worse. No one will tell them though, that would be *unforgivable*. 
 
 I turned 25 today and now I realize why my parents were the way they were. I realize why they tried so hard to keep me out of trouble and they punished me when I screwed up. I'm thankful to my parents for everything they did, but I just do n't think I can live in this world anymore as if I had a choice now. 
 
 Here is how it works. Did you know that all internet postings and replies are monitored and edited by a giant computer? You never notice because the pages you see change immediately but the pages other people see take a second longer to pop up. That's because there is a giant computer preventing people from talking about the truth. Of course no one talks about the truth, no no one talks about it. You ca n't... and if you do... well it does n't go well let's stick with that. 
 
 So I'm writing all of this down and when my kids turn 25 I'll give it to them to read. Maybe it will help them come to terms with the truth. My parents took me to a place today, these places are all over the world for just this one day in a persons life. I did n't even have to take a day off work, my boss just told me not to come in yesterday. When I asked him why he told me I'll figure it out soon enough. So, when you get to this place it's a giant box, just a big granite box. It looks like a squat concrete bunker with no windows and a steel door. My parents handed me my birth certificate and told me to scan it in and the door would open. I was pretty nervous but I did it and when the door opened they told me to go inside, they could n't come with me. I do n't know if they did n't want to or were n't allowed but if it was me I would n't want to see it again. 
 
 When you get inside there is a small foyer and a elevator. It was a brightly lit foyer with white walls and a marble floor. The only thing in there was a single red button next to the elevator doors. I pressed the button and the elevator dinged immediately like it was waiting there just for me. It seemed like a normal elevator, wood paneling and a florescent light on top. When I got inside there was only a single button. I looked back at the door I came through and realized there was no handle. This was the only way. I stepped into the elevator and took a breath. I pressed the button and the doors closed silently. It did n't feel like the elevator was moving though, just a slight hum. The ride took about 5 minutes and then the doors opened. 
 
 It was another room, this one was different though it had a large glass window that took up the entire wall and was completely blacked out. In the middle of a room was a pedestal with another button, this one blue, it had the word `` TRUTH'' on it in big white letters. I was hesitant, maybe I did n't want to know the truth. Maybe I just wanted to go back to my job and my desk and press buttons all day and look at spread sheets. I looked behind me and the elevator was gone. I mean, the door was n't closed it just was n't there. I was in a room with no entrance or exit. I did n't really have a choice. I pressed the button. There was a click and a faint hum. A sheet of paper came out of a slot in the pedestal. I wo n't go over the details of that letter, but suffice it to say it was pretty unbelievable. There may or may not be a heaven, but there is a hell. When you die, if you lived a righteous life you get to do just that, die. Maybe you get reincarnated, maybe you go to heaven or nirvana if you believe in that, but that's your reward death. However, if you are deemed to have not lived to your potential or done grievous harm to others or a myriad of other things that the list specifies, well there is a place for you. 
 
 When the that sheet of paper came out of the pedestal and I took it into my hands the window became clear. I was looking into hell. It was n't all lava and brimstone. It was worse. It's hard to describe, it's not what you think. I wish I could explain it but you have to see for yourself... I do n't want you to but you do, you have to. I passed out at some point and I woke up in the foyer of the building. When I opened my eyes I could see there was now a handle on the door. I opened it and the sun was blinding but it was good to be outside. My parents were waiting there, tears in their eyes. We held each other close and went home. We never talked about it, who would want to? I'm sorry. 
 

