Dear John,

You don’t know me, but I assumed ownership of the 555-111-2222 phone number for the last 10 years.
During this 10yr tenure as owner, I quickly found out that you were the previous owner of that number.
I have one question for you. Before I ask, though, it may be helpful for me to provide some background.

10 years ago, upon activating the phone number, I started receiving phone calls asking for you. At first I
thought that you were a very popular man. A man who had an extensive social network that was quickly
shattered, (in what I had assumed) was due to extreme and unfortunate circumstances. I had
envisioned a scenario where you weren’t able to communicate out the pending contact information
change. Like a Hollywood movie where you’re throwing random items into a suitcase at 2am with a car
idling in the driveway waiting to drive away and never return.

However, as the calls continued to flood in I started to notice a pattern. The people calling were not
disappointed or distraught after being told that I was not “John Doe” and I don’t know who/where he is.
They were not at all friendly, and quite frankly - rude. The calls didn’t stop, and they always had an
objective; they wanted money. At this point I didn’t know who to feel sorry for. This mysterious “John
Doe” or the impolite people who constantly demanded, “Contact us immediately in reference to file #
xxxxx”. It was a battle of persistence on both fronts: credit agencies trying to track down “John Doe”
and “John Doe” incessantly avoiding his responsibilities. As the years went on, the incoming calls
dwindled and became fewer and further in between. It was then I started to realize that “John Doe”
was winning.

Your appearance in my life wasn't only limited to the phone calls. You were everywhere! Future Shop,
Safeway, anywhere I had to give up those coveted 9 digits you were there. You were like this alter ego
that followed me everywhere. I started to ask myself…am I “John Doe”? Is this a Fight-Club-Tyler-
Durden situation? Do people actually believe that I'm not "John Doe"? It was very troubling times.

Fast forward almost 10 years later. The phone rings and an “unavailable” phone number shows up. An
uneasy feeling rushes over me. Something about this call seemed unsettling. A familiar, yet distant,
emotion sets in. I couldn’t place where that knot in my gut came from. I picked up the phone and
immediately the memories came rushing back. It was about: “John Doe”

I thought I had conquered those feelings of troubled identity, but the past came rushing back. Enough
was enough. I was going to dive into the life of this elusive “John Doe”. Is he real? Where is he now?
Why did he leave? Can I find him? Is he in witness protection? Troubles with the mob? Dealing crack
on the corner? Works with the CIA? Abducted by aliens?

The bigger question was, “Did I *want* to know?” Throwing caution to the wind, I pressed forward
anyway. Somewhere deep down I knew that the chance of finding anything was slim to none. Why
would I find “John Doe” if he so successfully disappeared many years ago. There is no way such a man
would allow himself to be easily found by the general public.
It’s a known fact that the internet is a very powerful entity and Google knows all. So, with a little
Google-search magic…lo and behold I ended up face to monitor with a picture of *the* “John Doe”.

I was speechless. I was frozen at the keyboard. I didn’t know what to say… or what to think. This was
*the* “John Doe”, the “John Doe” that haunted my life for years. It was like a ghost had physically
materialized in front of me.

I couldn’t believe what I was learning. “John Doe” has a son. He has an online network of 94 friends.
He works in land development with his brother Paul and they are co-founders of Somewhere Here
Developments. They grew up together in St. Francis High School and then John moved into the
University of Somewhere to obtain a degree in Bio Sci, with a minor in Business. Not the public profile I
expected to find. This leads me to think that this is all part of the larger plan – hiding-in-plain-sight.
Aliens weren’t the reason for this. I’ve seen enough movies to understand what was going on here, I’m
about to go too far. I’m already in dangerous territory inquiring your “public profile” with nuggets of
your hidden past. I will expect to start finding non-descript black SUVs parked across the street
everywhere I turn.

Let me be clear, I have no intention of digging any further. As far as I’m concerned, “John Doe” has
always been a family man in a family run business. There is no need to take any “corrective action”
with me.

I will part with one question & one question only:

Can you please send me a phone number or forwarding address to where you can be reached,
so that I can pass it along to anyone who inquires?

Thanks in advance,

Curt