“I’m not here to talk to!”

I had basically had an awful day at one of my part-time jobs. I was tired, sore, and basically spent the past hour choking back tears from how tired I was, and how badly I had been treated at work.

I was catching the last train that was running that evening. I was sitting on the platform, holding my knees and not talking to anyone. I was staring at the wall. I was wearing a black t-shirt and knee length black shorts. I had no make up on, I was caked in dirt and sweat, and my legs were bruised, evidence of my backbreaking day.

Well, evidently I was still attractive to a drunk man who was catching the train home with his friends. He was a good thirty years older than me, twice my size and reeking of bourbon.

“Hey! Hey there! Girl!”

I thought he wasn’t talking to me. I was tuning out everything going on. I was just so desperate to get home.

“Hey. Hey.”

He was standing right next to me. I was already so overwhelmed from my day, I didn’t understand what was going on. I look up at him. He was standing very close to me, close enough that one of his knees was brushing against my arm.

“Hey girl! I like your pig tails! That’s so cute! What’s your name? Where do you live?”

After a day of being yelled at, hurt by boxes, sprayed by hoses, injured by ladders, disrespected by bosses and talked down to by customers I. FUCKING. LOST. IT.

I immediately burst into a shock of hysterical tears. I let out this horrible noise and got to my feet immediately.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Why are you crying? I just – ”

“Why are you doing this?! Why are you bothering me? I am tired, I am sore, and I am fucking over it!” I yelled at him. “Can’t you see I’ve had a horrible day? Why can’t you people just leave me alone? I’m not here to talk to! I never gave any indication I wanted to talk to you! Just go away! Just leave me alone! GO AWAY GO AWAY GO AWAY GO AWAY WHY AREN’T YOU GOING AWAY JUST GO AWAY!”

He stumbled back to his friends, looking more frightened than I have ever seen a grown man look. As soon as he was a few feet away, I immediately stopped crying, went back to my sitting position and tucked my face into my knees.

I half expected him and his friends to jeer at me and carry on, but they were all deathly silent. Even when the train came, they sat down (a good row and half away from me) and as I left. Not a single word.

I felt much better afterward, to be honest.

– Anna

Location: Perth, Washington

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem.
Find suggestions for what YOU can do about this human rights issue.