There's this moment I don't hear talked about much at all, probably because it's awkward and unpleasant and sort of nerve-wracking and might make you look/feel like a bad person to admit.

But there's this moment when you're curious about a girl/woman and you start to get the feeling she might think you're a creep. Or maybe now you're almost downright sure about it.

What do you do?

It can be upsetting to feel like you're being treated as if you might be an axe-murderer. Even just feeling like that - regardless of whether you are being seen/treated that way. It's upsetting.

You don't want to think any less of her. Of course.

Even if this is hurting and she seems to misunderstand entirely.

But you're left with these unparseable questions, like, is it ok if I send her a message saying "Hi"? Or if she says she would/might like to be friends, is that because she's worried if she says "No" you'll stalk, rape, and murder her?

Sometimes you wish people had x-ray vision and they could see straight into your heart and understand.

Enough social anxiety can make you seem creepy sometimes. No one's actually told me I'm creepy, ever. Not that I can ever recall, anyway, and it's the kind of thing I'd remember. But I've felt many, many times that I was seen as creepy. (How much of that was just my anxiety talking? Difficult to measure.)

It can be the most heartbreaking feeling.

Do you get that I'd rather jump off a cliff than harm you?