Instructions for Returning to a Place That No Longer Exists

I. Purpose of This Document

These instructions exist because return has been explicitly requested.

Please note that they are not an endorsement of the request, nor should their existence be interpreted as confirmation that return is advisable, safe, or even possible in any way commonly understood. This document addresses procedure only.

Outcomes vary according to intent, history, and ultimate destination.

Exercise caution, as the place in question no longer exists in any officially recognized capacity. This condition has been observed, recorded, and fully accounted for by authorized personnel. This being the case, its absence should not be treated as an error in navigation, memory, or documentation, as absence is the ideal state in which return must operate.

Return, as defined here, should not be taken to imply restoration. Any expectation of reinstatement should be adjusted accordingly.

Please further note that this document has been revised multiple times. Certain instructions remain provisional. Others have been retained despite repeated failure, as no suitable alternatives have been identified.

Be advised that regardless of how you approach, the place will not agree with you about what it was.

II. Eligibility Requirements

Be further advised that return is not available to all applicants.

Eligibility is determined by the following conditions, which must be met simultaneously and in full. Meeting one or more conditions in isolation does not constitute proper qualification:

• Prior familiarity with the place, sufficient to allow for contradiction
• Demonstrable attachment, the nature of which need not be disclosed
• Willingness to accept misrecognition without correction

Applicants seeking full closure are advised not to proceed. Applicants seeking validation are likewise ineligible.

Those who left the place voluntarily may find their eligibility subject to further review. Those who were removed may experience fewer initial obstacles but increased difficulty during later stages of return.

If you are unsure whether you qualify, this uncertainty should not be taken as disqualification. Many successful attempts begin in darkness and doubt. Many unsuccessful attempts begin in absolute confidence.

III. Required Materials

The following materials must be gathered prior to departure. Substitutions are strongly discouraged.

• One object that only made sense within the context of the place
• One name no longer spoken aloud with any expectation of response
• Proof of prior permission (expired, damaged, or unofficial formats accepted)

Photographic evidence is strongly discouraged, as the place does not present accurately in images and may reject visual confirmation outright. Do not bring replacements or attempt unauthorized improvements. The place will recognize any and all attempts to negotiate.

All materials should be carried personally. Delegation is not advised.

IV. Preparation

Preparation for pending return should begin no less than three days prior to the actual attempt, though longer periods are common.

During this time, applicants are instructed to rehearse the act of arrival without imagining successful reception. Practice saying the name of the place aloud. If pronunciation varies from memory, do not attempt to correct it.

Lower your expectations. Then lower them again.

Applicants may experience symptoms and side effects, including heightened recall, sudden doubt, and a persistent sense of having forgotten something essential. These symptoms should not be considered grounds for postponement.

Do not notify others of your intent to return. Explanations can greatly complicate successful departure.

V. Locating the Route

The route to the place cannot be mapped directly.

Begin where the place was last adjacent to something that still exists. Follow what remains and explicitely ignore what has been restored. Improvements indicate deviation more often than not.

Landmarks may persist without function. Treat these as warnings rather than confirmations. If you find yourself exactly where you remember, you have gone too far.

Correct course immediately by retracing your steps imperfectly.

VI. Arrival Protocol

Successful arrival may not be immediately apparent. If the place acknowledges you, allow it to finish doing so. Do not interrupt the process or attempt to correct inaccuracies in tone, sequence, or detail.

If the place misidentifies you, respond as instructed. Resistance may delay departure.

If acknowledgment fails to occur, wait the prescribed interval before interpreting this as confirmation. Be advised that the exact duration of this interval is undefined.

VII. Known Complications

The following outcomes have been thoroughly documented. However, please note that this list is non-exhaustive:

• Some returnees report the place behaving as though nothing unusual or transformative ever happened there.
• Others report the place behaving as though something happened very differently.
• In rare cases, the place appears to be waiting, perhaps for something to happen again.

Applicants encountering familiarity without recognition are advised to proceed with extreme caution. Applicants encountering recognition without familiarity are advised to drastically limit engagement.

VIII. Duration and Departure

Total length of stay is determined by the place and only the place.

Departure is possible in most documented cases, though ease of departure varies greatly from case to case. Unauthorized extended stays have been known to result in extreme difficulty distinguishing routine return from residence.

If the place requests that you remain, delay response. Silence is acceptable, and agreement is not binding (although it may be treated as such). Applicants experiencing reluctance to leave should note that this response is expected and does not necessarily indicate success.

IX. Final Notes

Completed return should not be treated as restorative, as the place remembers you differently than you likely remember it. Attempts to resolve these discrepancies are not advisable.

If the place asks why you came back, tell the truth. But if the place does not ask at all, leave without explanation.

Do not attempt to return again.