The YSA Creep
When I was born, I was blessed with
a gift.
It’s called a memory.
I remember people’s names.
But this gift also comes with a
curse:
Invisibility
I remember people’s names in
exchange for their inability to see me.
I go to an FHE for the entire ward.
I don’t like these much.
Because this happens:
A girl comes up to me to introduce herself.
I know her.
Anna
She is my roommate’s best friend and comes over all the time.
She says,
“I have never seen you before. Are you new in the ward?”
I’ve been here for three months.
I see her but she obviously cannot see me.
My roommates often ask me about the
other members of the ward:
“What’s that girl’s name? In the blue sweater?”
Eliza
“What’s Tanner’s last name?”
Turner
“And, who’s the guy with the
American flag tie?”
Joseph
Don’t ask me how I know.
I’m just a creep.
I remember people and they don’t
remember me.
My crush is standing next to me.
We have introduced ourselves to each other before.
Thrice
He turns to me.
He opens his mouth
“I don’t think we have met. What’s your name?”
Crush extinguished.
He doesn’t know who I am but I know who he is.
Thomas is sitting next to me in
Sunday school today.
He reads his scriptures silently.
The teacher invites us to meet our
neighbors.
Oh no!
Thomas gave a talk two months ago.
I still remember
The story of his dad twisting his
ankle.
I’m a creep.
I try to forget.
Not happening.
I remember his story but he doesn’t
know I am even sitting next to him.
Then one day,
I see Rachel.
But is it Rachel?
Her name cannot possibly be Rachel
because that is her roommate’s name.
I forgot a name!
I say,
“Hi, I know we have met several
times. What is your name?”
Rachel
Oh, that was her name.
I guess I slightly remembered but
she walks away before a conversation.
Now I’m in a new ward.
Fresh start.
I don’t see anyone that I know.
Wait.
Yes, there is Samantha from my ward
two years ago.
I go to talk to her!
“Hi, I’m Samantha! What’s your
name?”
I guess she doesn’t know we were in
the same ward.
I introduce myself.
I’m the creep.
She doesn’t know who I am but I
know a whole lot about her.
Maybe I should go back to a family
ward.
There, I am not entirely expected
to socialize.
It’s an idea.
The people who remember me are my
family.
So, someone in the ward would know
me.
That is where I know people and
people know me.
My sister comes up to me.
She wears a very mischievous look
upon her face.
She stands there.
She gawks.
“Excuse me, I should remember this, but what is your name?”
Seriously?
But, I know she knows.
She was blessed with the same gift
that I was blessed with.
She has the same curse.
This is where I am understood and I
understand her.
