I Was the Child You Didn’t Like

The very first story I published on Medium

Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash

I was the child who desperately wanted to have friends and didn’t understand why you didn’t like me.

I was the annoying one who read the fastest and learnt everything quickly and easily; the one who could memorise everything and regurgitate it for straight A’s in tests and exams. I was the child who sometimes made you look stupid by saying how easy something was that you found difficult. I was the child who always had her hand up in class, the one the adults and teachers liked. I was the odd one who didn’t understand when you made fun of me or used sarcasm.

You think you are so clever, don’t you?

Well yes, actually, I do.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

I was the little girl on the autistic spectrum, misunderstood, undiagnosed. I was the child with a brain that worked differently to yours.

I get it now: I came across as annoying and arrogant, a clever clogs, a teacher’s pet.

Will it help you to know that I did not mean to hurt you or make you feel stupid. Will it help you to know that, in fact, I was desperately trying to be more…