It was a mid-afternoon on a beautiful fall and sunny day.

I had just finished class and was walking to the bus stop across from McMaster University. I sat, minding my own business waiting for the bus to arrive, when a middle aged man sat next to me.

If you are a woman reading this, then you might know the uneasy, instinctual gut feeling, of an unknown man sitting in the seat directly next to you, when 4 other seats away from you exist, unoccupied.

I had a bad feeling something would be said but I ignored my thoughts, because not every man that sits close to you is going to say something inappropriate… right ? Unfortunately my instinct was right.

The man asked me if I “wanted an older man” because he could teach me things in the bedroom I could never dream of, then proceeded to list off just the things he wanted to do to me, which are much to explicit for this post.

I was in shock, I had never had someone who would say such disgusting things to me. I stood up and walked a few feet away, praying that the bus would come sooner, and it eventually did.

Unfortunately, the real fear came after I stepped into the bus and realized that he was also getting on, I never wanted to not be a young woman so bad in my life.

After I got off the bus a few stops away from my home, making sure the man was not following me, and clenched my phone wondering how well it would work if I needed to use it in an attempt to defend myself.

My beautiful fall day had turned into something dark and frightening, frustrated trying to understand why I deserve this treatment?

~ Madelaine D

Location:

Hamilton/Ontario/Canada

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.