Street Harassment
My name is Priya, and I always felt safe walking home from work. It was a time for me to relax and think about my day. But everything changed one evening when I saw a man standing on the street corner, looking at me. It wasn’t just a quick glance—it felt like he was staring at me in a way that made me feel uncomfortable.
At first, I didn’t think much of it. People look at each other all the time, right? But the next day, he was there again. And the day after that. Every time I walked by, he would say something. At first, it was just small things like, “You look nice today,” but soon it got worse. He would say things like, “You should smile more,” or ask if I wanted to stop and talk. His words made me feel like I had to talk to him, even though I didn’t want to.
I tried to ignore him. I walked faster and kept my head down, hoping he would go away. But he didn’t. He started following me, walking behind me sometimes. Sometimes, he’d walk right next to me and ask where I was going or if I wanted to get a coffee. I didn’t want to talk to him, but he wouldn’t stop. The more I tried to avoid him, the more he kept coming after me.
So, I started taking different ways home. I thought if I changed my route, he wouldn’t find me. But no matter what, he was always there. It felt like I couldn’t escape. I started feeling scared every time I left work, wondering if he would be there waiting for me.
Then one day, things got worse. I was walking home, trying to get away quickly, when I saw him again. This time, he stepped in front of me, blocking my way. He stood too close, and the way he spoke made me feel trapped. He said things I didn’t want to hear. I felt scared and didn’t know what to do.
That was when I decided I couldn’t let this go on. I reported him to the police, and I told my family about everything. It was hard, but I knew I needed help. Talking about it made me feel a little safer, and I started to feel stronger.
Since then, I’ve learned that it’s important to speak up. Even though I still feel scared sometimes, I know I’m not alone. If you’re going through something like this, you don’t have to stay quiet. You deserve to feel safe, and it’s okay to ask for help.
Credits
Posters : Photoshop, Meta AI, Canva. Designed by Jessi Hemanth
Composer: Greg Dombrowski (BMI) Publisher: Secession Studios