You Don't Belong Here

This is a story about Steve. Steve was my roommate for a semester. He has given me permission to repost, as long as I used a different name.

As a general rule, I don't share my interest and experiences with my friends in the real world. That is why I was shocked when Steve pulled me off to the side and opened up.

Steve asked me if I knew why he left his mission early. I didn't even know he had gone on one. He said the devil told him to leave. I said nothing. Steve delved into greater detail.

When Steve was 5, his family went on a road trip. Steve shared a room with his older brother. While his brother was in the shower, Jim watched his cartoons. All of a sudden, the power went out, and a shadow sat in the chair next to Steve. This shadow had the shape of a tall, slender man. His personage was shadowy, devoid of light. He had on a black hat, dark boots, and a black cloak. The man's eyes were steel-blue and would pierce you to the soul. Steve was unable to move or scream for help. Three minutes later, as Steve's brother was getting out of the shower, the shadow disappeared and the lights and tv turned back on.

At this point in the story, I gave a low whistle, but still said nothing.

Steve then fast forwarded until he was in the MTC. Every class starts and ends with a hymn and a prayer. One day during the closing hymn, Steve feels a grip arround his heart. A voice from behind told him that he should go home; Steve didn't belong here. Steve shrugged it off and tried to sing. The louder his words, the tighter the grip became. He was doodling during this episode. His pen was going wild, but he never looked at the paper. Finally Steve stopped singing and his heart was released.

After the closing prayer, the teacher approached Steve, saw the paper, then escorted him to the branch president's (equivalent to Pastor). The branch president saw the drawing then took Steve to the MTC president's office. The MTC president asked Steve what happened. Steve told of the grip he felt on his heart. Then the president asked Steve to explain his drawing. Steve looked down and saw the paper for the first time.

In the drawing, Steve was sitting at a desk. A tall, slender man was kneeling behind him. The man had his hand inside Steve's ribcage squeezing the heart.

More men were called in to exorcise Steve, totally cleansing him.

Steve did serve part of his mission. About a year into it, the same shadow-man showed up and asked why Steve was persecuting him. He told Steve to go home. Steve obeyed.

At this point I opened up and told of my shadow's visits. We compared descriptions and determined it to be the same being.

He left the MTC in April. I asked him which was his dormitory building - Pratt. I asked for the room number. He couldn't remember the number, but it was in the North-West corner of the second floor.

I then proceeded to tell my encounter in that very room, but that is a different story.