A Question

I want you to ask yourself a question. If you’ve never considered this question, don’t dismiss it until you hear all the circumstances. Just don’t jump to a hasty conclusion because of personal biases. The question is: If you were in love with someone and that love wasn’t reciprocated in the least, would you stalk them? I can already see the looks on your faces. Just because a few stalkers went overboard, they all have a bad rap. But what if it’s just another form of devotion like going to a baseball game? The baseball players don’t know you’re there and neither does the stalked. You’re not sold. How about we call them people who follow others around without them being aware of the follower’s presence? How about followers? Does that sound more harmless?
Ok, back to the scenario. You’re sure you love this person, and they will not love you back. You’re in love and depressed, these are not opposites by the way, and you want them in your life no matter what. So because they will not allow you to be in proximity to them, you decide to follow them. It’s innocent. You don’t interfere with their life. It’s like you’re living a life parallel to theirs. You sit a few rows behind them in the movie theatre so you can see what they’re seeing. You order the same kind of latte at their favorite coffee house so you can taste what they’re tasting. You touch the sweater they tried on at a store so you can feel what they feel.
It’s romantic. You’re star crossed lovers, pulled apart by very unromantic judges. And why do you stalk? Because of hope. Hope that when you’re driving behind them, one day they’ll pull their car over on the side of the road, get out and stand there shaking their head at your tenacity and give you the call me sign. Or hope that they’ll recognize your legendary devotion to them, look up at you through the window separating the main dining area and play area in the local McDonald’s where you’re pretending to play with someone else’s kid, and they’ll wave at you, pull out an extra spoon and gesture towards a McFlurry. Hope that they’ll tell you someday they’re emotionally ready to drop the restraining order and embrace your red hot burning love.
But what if it doesn’t happen? You wouldn’t stop would you? Is it true love if you stop? If you can’t ever feel the love returned, does that change the nature of love? Or will you follow them forever, from town to town, holding on to just a sliver of them?
I hope you answered no, because if you answered yes, you are sick. You are a social deviant and need to be locked up. Some of you were feeling sympathetic. There’s no such thing as good stalkers, you freaks. You are wrong and weird.