my last year in new york city, i got off the subway around 9 or 10p.m. i only lived about 5 blocks from the f train, but i hadnât gotten more than two before a womanâs hand suddenly touched my arm.Â
âthat guy behind us is following you,â she said. âhe was watching you leave the train car and followed you up.â
i hadnât noticed him, or at least not noticed him following me. when we stopped outside a grocery store, he stopped half a block back and loitered. the woman linked her arm with mine and walked me several blocks out of her way to my front door and made sure i got inside safely.
another time, nocigar and i were walking home and at a stoplight a stranger grabbed my arm when i wouldnât respond to him and tried to physically drag me over to him. sheâwho is, by the way, not a very physically imposing girlâripped his hand off my arm and snarled, âdonât fucking touch her.â
protect your friends. protect strangers. there are good men in the world, but donât wait for them to do something if you can do it yourself.