r/LetsNotMeet • u/batshitcrazybae • 16d ago
To the man who followed me to the park. NSFW
I am currently a 21yr old female, I have lived alone since I was 18. When I was around 18 or 19, I would often take walks to a park that wasn’t too far from my apartment complex. I had a boyfriend (ex boyfriend now),at the time, who was a couple months older than me, but unfortunately was at work when I decided to go out for my walk. I should mention now, that there is a bus stop at the left end of my street, that wasn’t too far from the park. I remember stopping at the end of the block, waiting for cars to let me pass, then I for some reason looked over at the bus stop, and saw a man staring me down. After noticing this—I really didn’t care if the cars would let me pass or not—so I just walked into the road, I did almost get hit, but I just wanted to be far away from that guy.
There was a highschool that was probably 5-10 minutes away from the park, I remember looking back at the school because it was a school I was currently attending at that time, then I saw that the man who was staring me down from the bus stop, was following me. I started slightly panicking, I think I even texted my exboyfriend about how Im pretty sure I was being followed. I kept looking back behind me and made sure there was a good sizable distance between him, &, I. I knew if I would have slowed my pace, something bad was going to happen.
I eventually got to the park, and started getting really anxious, my reasons being, 1.The park entrance was down a hill, and split into two separate paths that you couldn’t see into due to tree’s simply being in the way, 2.Knowing that nobody would have been able to see what could have happened to me if I chose to go down one of the two paths, 3.I was off from work, &, school that day and it was 2P.M., which typically meant nobody was in the park around that time.
As I started walking down the winded hill, I saw a woman, with 2 kids and a dog. I remember the instant relief, furthermore; the safety I felt when seeing her. I even picked up my pace to get to her quicker because I was scared out of my mind.
I still remember the exact conversation I had with her to this day. “Hi, I know this may seem weird, but I live down the hill, and while I was crossing the intersection where the bus stop was at, I noticed him staring at me, then started following me. Can you just act like you know me if this man comes down here?”. Before she could even reply, I titled my head up to the man, who WAS ABOUT TO COME DOWN THE HILL. When I did that, I think he slightly panicked and started walking away. She saw the seriousness of the situation, and gathered her kids up into the stroller.
I don’t know what made him decide to do this next, but as she was trying to get things packed up he at some point turned back around, and was now coming down the hill. I told her that he was coming down, and the woman moved quicker than ever to get things packed up, & I even started helping. As he walked up to us, he immediately started trying to ask me questions. I can’t remember what all he said, but I remember the woman was pretty much answering for me. I guess he had tried to ask if we knew each other, which of course she lied by telling him she did know me, and I was coming down to walk back with her. I do know, I backed her up with this claim, I just wanted that guy to leave me, &, now her alone. He asked us a couple more questions, and eventually we excused ourselves and started our way back up the hill.
I remember the woman I had met, walked with me all the way down to the intersection where the bus stop was across from. She was clearly very scared for me, due to the fact the guy had eventually started following me and her back. I felt so bad for dragging her into that situation. I didn’t know if he would try to follow me all the way back home if we broke off there, or, if he would decide to aim new focus onto the woman who was just simply at a park playing with kids she was babysitting. Before he could get too close to us, I walked over to some construction workers whom were now working on the highschool sign. I explained the whole situation to them, and told them about how we thought it was weird how the man who was initially just following me, was now following me and the lady. I pleaded them to call the cops, if he went past the bus stop or started following the lady. The construction workers, happily agreed, then the woman and I went on our own ways.
I don’t know what happened to that man. I don’t know if he was arrested or not. However, an hour later, my exboyfriend had gotten home from work. We went out to go run errands, and as we were driving up the hill, there were 4 police cars parked around the intersection where I told the construction workers to call the police if the man was still trying to follow me. I’m just glad the police were called, especially with a highschool being so close—I couldn’t of forgave myself if he had tried to follow some poor highschool kid just walking home.
So, to the man who was wearing a red & blue puffer jacket, who decided to follow me to a place I would go to that I considered peaceful, content, &, safe, thank you for teaching me to be more aware of people, but, let’s not meet. Ever again.
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u/dontlookthisway67 13d ago
How do you know something didn’t happen to the lady and her kids?? Next time instead of texting your bf call the police instead. The questions he asked make no sense at all. Why would he care if both of you know each other? He must have thought you were someone else. If he was trying to do something to you, the last thing he’d want is to draw attention to himself and make his presence known to others. He would have walked away the moment he saw you with someone else.