When I was twelve, a man who lived down the street started following me to and from school, when I lived in Dawson Creek, BC. He would tell me that he missed ‘seeing my pretty face’ and that he wanted me to ‘come and visit him sometime.’ When I refused, he started stalking me.
I told my mom about it, and she told me it was my own fault for not being street smart enough. So I just tried my best to avoid him until I was old enough to move to a different city. In the six years that he harassed and stalked me, I suffered panic attacks and constant fear. My grades suffered, and I was eventually expelled from school.
I remember running from him one day after school, how he chased me through the trees beside the school. I was lucky that I was a fast runner. I was terrified, but I was also so ashamed. I felt like it was my fault, that if I was somehow smarter, or less pretty, this wouldn’t be happening to me. It wasn’t until later that I realized that the only reason he did this to me was because I was a girl.
– anonymous
Location: Dawson Creek, BC, Canada
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Melle says
Oh my goodness! I hope you have recovered somewhat since this ordeal. This is the scariest thing I have read in a long time and it is my greatest fear that something like this could happen to a family member. That man deserves nothing but trouble from the police. And jailtime!
Golden Silence says
This is why people don’t talk about their ordeals enough, because family and friends are so quick to dismiss it.
I am so sorry this happened to you. Melle’s right—this fool deserves a lot of time in jail for what he did!
The author of this post says
Thank you so much both of you. I have recovered since then, although I rarely visit my parents because I don’t feel safe in my hometown. Sadly, I didn’t know enough to report the creep back then. That’s another reason why the work that’s being done to stop street harassment is so important. I really wish someone would have told me that this behavior was unacceptable and that I had rights in the situation. I want to be that person now and tell other girls and women that they have a voice.
Golden Silence says
I wonder if he could still be reported, or if there is a statute of limitations. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s still doing it now. While he’s getting older the girls are getting younger. Scary!
Awesome! Keep staying strong.
The author of this post says
He was in his sixties when I was 12, so most likely he’s dead or in a nursing home now. That’s what I hope, at least. Anyway, I should look into the limits on pressing charges for this sort of thing. Either way, I don’t know his name, and the last time I was in my hometown, I walked by his house, and it looked like he’d moved.