The one who wanted to bring me home

I was 21 and just had dinner with my teacher and classmates. I still felt the excitement of the day, walked down the street with a small smile on my face. That day was the first day I had ever worn my glasses and they were making me confident as fuck.

I was approaching the train station. Not a great place to be. Especially alone. At night. As a woman. But no choice for me. I had to go there to get home. And sure enough, this guy started approaching me.

He was nice at first, asking me how I was. So far, so good. Until he started telling me how dangerous it is at night for a woman on her own. Yes, I thought. Because of people like you it is, so what are you really telling me? And sure enough, he told me why that was important to him.

He said he was concerned about my safety and wanted to take me home so he could be sure that I arrived in one piece. I said no, thank you. He asked me why I said no. I told him that I would prefer to walk alone. And he had the audacity to tell me that that wasn’t true. That everybody wants company, especially his. I didn’t know what to say to this. So I just told him, again, that I wanted to go alone. He genuinely seemed to not understand why.

At this moment, a woman on a bike stopped next to us. She looked at the two of us and waited to see what happens next. I said goodbye to the guy and started walking home. The woman waited to see if he would follow me. He didn’t. She went on her way. I am today still grateful for her checking on me.

That day, I was truly on a roll. As I entered my street, two guys walked towards me. One of them told me that I have gorgeous eyes. Just to walk past me. Now that is how you give a compliment. No strings attached, just saying something nice.

That night, I went to bed happy. I got a nice compliment and I finally told a guy no. What a great feeling.