The Dear David meme originated from a massive viral Twitter thread started by artist Adam Ellis in 2017, where he documented the alleged haunting of his apartment by a ghost child with a misshapen head. The thread captivated millions with its creepy photos, audio recordings, and drawings. In the meme world, Dear David is used to represent overwhelming anxiety, the feeling of being watched, or situations where something terrifying is looming just out of sight. It perfectly captures the relatable dread of insomnia or being haunted by one's own responsibilities and past mistakes.