I’m really looking for a bit of a handhold because I can’t sleep replaying things. I don’t want to keep going over it with loved ones.
Last night I was walking to the nearest supermarket about a mile away, it was 9.20pm and still light and I just fancied a walk, I’ve walked there lots of times with no issues.
I had AirPods in listening to an audiobook and had to walk down an unlit road under a railway bridge, there were some big houses on the same side of the street I was on just a few metres ahead, they were set back with a long drive leading to the main road.
Across the road on my left was a low wall with bushes on top that was leading into a field.
As I was walking I suddenly heard the leaves on the bushes rustling and saw a man peering out through them, he looked right and left to see who was around and then started heading towards me quickly. It was obvious from his facial expression and the way he moved that it wasn’t friendly or someone just crossing the road.
I suffer with severe anxiety and on more then one occasion I’ve felt threatened in a situation where I was safe, I have panicked and run away and it felt scary but the reasonable side of me was always aware it was an overreaction.
This was completely different, I didn’t panic and remembered reading someone posting on mumsnet to make my way to the nearest house if I felt threatened and not to run as it might make the person pursuing you to speed up to catch you.
I walked quickly towards the nearest house with intent as though I was unaware he was there and heading home, this made the man hesitate coming towards me. As soon as I made it onto the drive I ran towards the house and didn’t look back.
I instinctively knew this man meant me harm in a way different from my usual feeling of anxiety.
The owner of the house was walking past his front door when he saw me on the doorstep, I told him what had happened and he ran onto the main road to see if he could spot the man.
The roads to the left and right were open and straight, the man was nowhere to be seen and a group of men heading from the opposite direction hadn’t seen him, the only explanation was he’d gone back into the bushes or he’d have been easily spotted walking on the main road. I also imagine if it had been an innocent encounter he’d have tried to reassure me he meant no harm.
The adrenaline was pumping and so I still felt detached, the man from the house insisted his girlfriend take me home or to the supermarket, I said I’d be fine going to the shop as It felt safer going to a public supermarket and less hassle then a stranger taking me home, I know now I wasn’t thinking straight and should have called the police there and then.
I got a few things shopping including some wine and chocolate for the people from the house to drop off on the way home to thank them, as I got to the checkout the woman who served me commented on the chocolate and I said it was for a couple who had just helped me and just broke down, the adrenaline had worn off and it hit me what if that house wasn’t there?
I had spoken to the woman on the checkout many times as she served me in the past and she was a familiar safe person, I had started to shake and fight back tears and told her what happened, she was incredibly kind and offered me a lift home and to stay in store until she finished. I also called the police who sent a patrol out and agreed it was safer for me to go home with someone rather then wait for the police. There was a man in the store who escorted us to the car and even offered to follow us to check we were safe. The kindness of strangers was overwhelming last night and despite what happened it was really heartwarming to see how kind most people are.
I arrived home safe and the police visited, they took it very seriously and I learned another woman was attacked on that road and raped recently. I can’t stop thinking about that and feel so shaken.
In the same way my brain stopped me panicking and freezing I had taken in so many details about the man to give a full detailed description, there were a couple of distinctive features that I hope make him easy to find, it is going to be released on local news and social media.
One of the most frustrating things is I have “Hollie Guard” personal safety app on my phone and use it every time I go anywhere alone late, you shake your phone to raise an alarm, I was shaking my phone vigorously until I realised that as it had still been light I’d forgotten to set it for an active alarm.
Part of the reason I’m posting is because I’m still so shaken and keep going over and over things, I just wanted the reassurance from other women that I’m not overreacting when nothing actually happened to me. I have been sexually assaulted in the past which makes it so much worse and I feel like I’m an obvious victim.
The other reason is because I used the advice I read on this site and I feel it really saved me, I wanted to share it to other women - just in case.
The nights might be lighter and I live in a small town with minimal crime, you just never know when you’ll face a dangerous situation though. The other thing that really alerted me was the number of times I’ve read posts on here about “women’s intuition” and “spidey senses” I might not have trusted my gut as much if I hadn’t read all the stories people posted about it and how it helped them avoid danger.
This is long and I apologise but it feels important to share the advice again in case it helps another woman feel safe whether she is in real danger or not.