A Scary Moment

I want to write about this because I feel like maybe some other women will realize it's not a joke and to just be careful when you're out alone. I also want to write about this because it's situations like these that remind you there are amazing people out there.

I stayed late at the library tonight because I was finishing up a paper for one of my classes. I knew if I came home I would be distracted by Billie and my bed taunting me to take a nap! I had taken the light rail to school, as usual. I have been taking the light rail for three years now, anywhere from 7 am to midnight. I love the light rail. It is easy and quick, and I usually always feel safe. Tonight was different. Tonight I was caught off guard.

I was leaning up against a rail, minding my own business, when two older men walked up to me. I thought maybe they would just say something in passing and move on, but they didn't. They started touching my arms, saying how beautiful I was. They asked what my name was and what not, but then they started asking me inappropriate questions. Even when I didn't reply and tried to look away, they kept talking, and kept moving closer. When they wouldn't leave I actually started to panic. I had no idea what to do, I had never been in a situation like that before.

One of them was about two inches in front of me, I could smell his nasty alcoholic breathe, when a girl to my right, a rather manly girl if ya get my drift, yelled to the men saying leave her alone that's my home girl. Then I noticed a guy come over and stand directly to the left of me. He was a smaller guy but you could tell he wanted to make his presence known and make sure I wasn't alone. And then one of the guys started cussing him out and calling him racist names, his arms flailing about. Now I was on the verge of tears. The girl who had yelled earlier walked over and grabbed my arm and took me over to her friend (who I later came to find out that he classified himself as a "Furry", people who are walking and talking animals, he was even wearing furry ears on his hat, you could only imagine the rest). The man had yelled at that sweet guy so much and got in his face that he ended up walking away from the station. Then they started yelling at me again and the girl who had pulled me away. But they eventually lost interest and walked away, probably because a small crowd had grown by then.

I kept my cool the best I could, let the furry guy rant until my stop came up, and literally almost ran to my car. Then I was absolutely in tears. I have never felt so violated and afraid before. I always thought San Jose was so safe- I have been everywhere alone, at all hours of the day. But maybe, I have been a little naive. I mean, if there wouldn't have been those three people close by, I may have found myself in quite the dilemma.

I want to thank those three strangers though. I don't know who they were and I probably will never see them again, but in that moment, they were my heroes. Seeing strangers help other strangers makes me love people even more.

And ladies, seriously, be careful.