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It was early morning & I headed for work. I knew I shouldn't be walking through town at that hour, but I didn't think I had much choice.
My BF refused to get up at that early hour to drive me (I had no license), buses weren't yet running yet, and I was flat broke & couldn't phone a cab.
The coworker I ususally rode with was on vacation.
I was about halfway to work when something made me look down an alleyway I was passing. It was by a club that had long earlier closed for the night. I saw a young man with a hoodie by a garbage bin. He had the hodie pulled over his head & not much of his face showed. My guts lurched & I knew he was trouble.
I kept marching, I walk very purposefully. Back then I did a lot of walking & I had legs like iron. I had a heavy parka on (it was December) and a backpack on. I was getting overheated, but I kept on.
I glanced back & saw that he had started to follow me. He was three blocks back so I wasn't that concerned. Until I glanced back & saw he was only a block away.
I decided to cross the street. (Its a main thoroughfare, busy in the day but very quiet that time of day.) I thought if he's not up to anything, he'll go straight.
I started to cross thes street and he hollered at me. I turned and told him to F--- off.
He started chasing me.
I reached the other side of the street & he was right beside me. I turned to him. He stopped, and pulled out a huge wad of money. He said "I got money." I don't know if he assumed I was a prostitute, or what.
I still don't know where I got the guts to do this, but I put my hands on my hips, leaned towards hm and said something to the effects of...'hey you f----in bastard, watch what the f--- you are doing and leave me the hell alone. F-- off already!'
His jaw dropped and I turned away,leaving him standing there. I walked into the middle of the street, thinking any car going either way I would stop & get help from. I saw headlights coming, and walked right for them. I could see the guy following slowly out of the corner of my eye.
It was a cab, and I hopped in, explained the situation to him & he drove me the last three blocks to where I work. I got out, shaking & scared, and went in to phone the police. I knew by the time they came, the man would be gone (he was), but I was hoping that maybe if my description matched anyone who someone else may have been suspiscious of, I might luck out & he'd get apprehended.
No luck. The cop joked I should have kneed the guy in the groin & grabbed his cash.
I assume he was stoned & bored & looking for trouble. (The strange man, not the cop.) I told the cop I had the adreneline, most definately, but I was scared he may have had a weapon.
I quit walking after that & put on a few pounds becasue of it. I know I have to get back to what I used to love doing, and get hiking the streets again, but in daylight. I've been saving for a treadmill.
This was probably the most frightening thing that has ever happened to me. I thought I was tough, but this incident has forever changed me, & I didn't even get hurt. I can't imagine what a rape victim goes through the rest of her life.
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I am not bound to please thee with my answers.
William Shakespeare
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