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The original was posted on /r/twoxchromosomes by /u/pizzanati on 2023-08-12 09:55:20.
I have been a lurker on Reddit for years but this is my first ever post—please be kind.
I (25F) live in an objectively shitty city. There is a lot of crime, poverty, drug addiction, etc. One of the (very few) redeeming qualities about this city is that there is a very large, well-maintained park. After living here for 3 years I had finally began to enjoy and feel safe in this park when I am by myself. Until last night.
Around 5 PM I went to the park to meet my partner to play pickleball. As I was walking from the train station to the park there was a man on a bike kind of just… lurking around me? Which, I’d like to add, is not at all unusual in this city. Almost daily there are men that try to talk to me or briefly follow me while I am walking around, but I do my best to stay safe and remain aware of my surroundings.
Anyway, I get to the park and I am walking along a trail to the courts when all of a sudden the man on the bike comes up behind me, rears back and smacks my ass hard. I was stunned. Like actually stunned, frozen in place, and couldn’t form a coherent thought for probably 30 seconds. I kept on a brave face but after about 5 minutes of continuing my walk I started to cry.
Now it’s 4AM and I just can’t stop thinking about it. I have been very fortunate to have only been touched by others consensually up until this point in my life. I feel an immense amount of embarrassment, shame, and fear. I keep thinking about what I could have done differently to prevent it. I keep thinking: why would he do that to me? On the other hand, I feel like I am overreacting and need to just let it go.
This was in broad daylight with plenty of people around in a public PARK. It haunts me thinking about the things other women have endured that are just… so much worse. How long will it be until women can go out in public and feel safe from harassment?
Tl;dr: I was walking in a park in broad daylight when a man essentially assaulted me and it has me feeling very upset and angry.