Creep

Shout out to women who look out for other women!

I was shopping alone today in a clothing store near my hometown, a quiet little suburb where nothing exciting ever seems to happen. An older woman who works in the store approached me, and very quietly asked me if I knew a man who was standing behind her.
I looked at the guy she was talking about–older, hat pulled down low, long hair in a greasy pony tail–and determined I had never seen him before.

“He’s been watching you, and carefully following you around the store. I’m going to tell my manager.”

For a second, I kind of felt frozen. Yes, I’ve dealt with creepy guys and their creepy eyeballs in the past, but nothing that ever concerned anyone else around me. She seemed genuinely scared, and I didn’t know what to do. I told her I wasn’t going to leave the store until he did.

Once I became aware of this guy’s presence, I realized she wasn’t joking. And let me tell you, he was good. It was a huge store, and although I had to search for him, he was never more than a few feet away from me. When I made this discovery, I felt absolutely sick.

After a while of me trying to kill as much time I could and eventually realizing this dude wasn’t going to leave anytime soon, the woman found me again and told me the store was calling the police. That freaked me out so much, and I instantly told her I wanted to leave. (Why? No idea. I think I have an irrational fear of people going apeshit when police get involved.) She had a man that worked in the back of the store walk me to my car, and he made sure I pulled away safely. I couldn’t help but check my rearview the whole way home, to make sure I wasn’t being followed.

CREEPTASTIC. But I hope the universes blesses that woman for looking out for me. She didn’t have to, and she certainly didn’t have to say anything to me about it, but I’m so glad she did. I think I’m going to take her a little present.