As I stood outside in the cold waiting at the bus stop for J to pick me up, I catch a glimpse of figure moving out of the corner of my eyes. My senses tighten, alerting me that the movement is from a man just near the bench where the buses stop to let people off at the park n ride near my house. It is a man who exited the bus the same time as I did. My heart quickens a little as I realize we are the only two people left at the bus stop, and he is headed towards me. Discretely, I glance around the bus stop looking for people, a car, our car… even J.
Intellectually I realize the odds of being attacked by this man, here at this bus stop, are slim. Embarrassedly I realize I’m assuming a lot that this man here would want to attack me for any reason. Guiltly I realize how sad it is that I even consider this man here would hurt me in anyway when he doesn’t know me.
But I also read this story here about a woman who was just going home from work when she was viciously attacked by four men who didn’t really know her either. As I turn my glance to the approaching man, I don’t relax – not even slightly – but I do smile politely as he queries, “Excuse me? Do you know if this is where I catch the bus to go to…”
Even as I answer his question and point him in the direction I think he needs, I still don’t relax. And my thoughts are once again on that poor young woman… all the poor victims of senseless acts of violence. How can anyone do that to another human being?
Posted by mmkeekah 
