[ WP ] The friendly bodysnatcher .

I roll my eyes. 
 
 This always happens when a shy person likes someone they thinks is out of their league. All the useless chit-chat, the desperate attempts to catch their crush's eye or be near them; it is foolish, but almost funny in the stupidity, like watching a dog chase his tail. 
 
 Then again, I could be the fool, because it is my role to help the pooch catch what it wants. 
 
 In every thousand or so people, there is someone who is born able to be a `` bodysnatcher''. They have talents, but, to use them, they have to use them to help to help people, or else they get violently ill after they do their thing. Of course, there always is some way to bend the rules, like my pen-pal Alisha purposely pairing people together to watch them have sex, but I at least try to respect peoples privacy. Oh, yeah, I should mention I am one. 
 
 I've known since I was three because of an accident involving cookies on the top shelf, a box of 1000 plastic forks right next to the sweets, my dog weaving around my/my mom's feet, and my mom stretching for the shelf under my power. When I learned what I did, I vowed I would n't be greedy again, associating cookie stealing with my departed dog. My main goal in school is to stay quiet, be a good girl for my parents, and work hard to get into college, but I just feel so sorry for people I have to help out. 
 
 Which gets me back to my current situation, watching Samantha try, and fail, to look cool while talking with Jack. I may just be good at reading people, but I can tell Jack likes her back and would ask her to the Homecoming dance on Friday if he was n't afraid of being rejected. `` Look at that,'' I mutter, `` a novel situation. Two people liking each other, and they do n't know it...'' 
 
 Actually, I have helped with 9 other couples this year alone. I also have helped a wimp defeat a bully, got a stranger to take his baby out of the boiling hot car, and had a teacher shut the class up. I admit the last one also helped me, but I justify it because others were getting frustrated with the clowns in the back talking. My watch alarm startles me out of my thoughts, telling me how there is only 5 minutes before the lunch bell rings. 
 
 I can do this quickly. I go to the corner stall in the girl's bathroom, and start concentrating on Jack. As I feel my body slide to the bathroom floor, I realize I am now 6 feet tall and talking with Samantha. I wait for a minute, letting Jack talk as I just flip through his memories to make sure he likes her. I have made too many awkward situations by being hasty and forcing a person to say what they do n't feel. 
 
 I just do a brief scan; the evidence of his near-infatuation popping up almost immediately. I have to focus to not make a face of disgust at his many memories of masturbating to a picture of her in a bikini: ca n't have Jack looking like a fool. Well, I ca n't let him looking like a fool to people who ca n't read minds. 
 
 The bell rings. I have to hurry before my attempt to help becomes a waste. `` Bye! I, um, hope you have a nice day. Well, it's already halfway over, I guess, but, um, see you later,'' spouts Samantha. Last chance for me to help. I ca n't let her get away, so I have Jack grab her hand. Shit, I should n't have done that, I need to stay in character. I/Jack drop her hand, and I can feel a blush rising to his cheeks, one of the few things I ca n't control, along with erections and stomach noises. 
 
 `` Um, you know, Samantha, there is this dance on Friday. Would you, uh, mind going with me?'' I take a second to make him breath, and decide Jack needs to doubt himself to make the performance more believable. `` It's ok if you do n't want to, I mean, I just thought it might be nice to go with you...'' 
 
 I see Samantha's reactions change from being surprised that Jack would ask her to doubt that he is telling the truth to thinly concealed excitement. `` YES!'' she yells, then, a little more controlled, says, `` that sounds wonderful, Jack. It would be a pleasure to go with you. Bye!'' Samantha leaves to go to her class, almost skipping in joy. 
 
 Another Oscar-winning performance from yours truly. I leave while Jack is figuring out where in the world he got the balls to ask her, blaming lack of self control, and return to my body, still sprawled on the bathroom floor. Samantha's shrill squeal to her friends about being asked by Jack confirms that I did the right thing. 
 
 `` They'll be Facebook Official by Saturday,'' I mumble. A burst of envy runs through me. I make so many people happy, but there is no chance anyone would be happy being with boring old me. All I can do is put others together and vainly hope that someone may like me in the future. I can do what seems impossible, but, more and more, it feels impossible to go on living. 
 
 The funny thing about being a bodysnatcher is you either feel like you should be worshiped because you help everyone, or you realize your problems do n't matter to anyone. There are many studies on the increased rates of bodysnatchers being class presidents or CEOs, and there are equally as many studies on their increased probability of being depressed and/or suicidal. Suicide does n't seem too bad of an option, actually. I wonder what would happen if I die; would anyone care? 
 
 I stop myself. I have to keep living so people's lives will get better with my help... 
 
 I just wish I could use my powers to help myself.
