I went walking one evening. It was still very light as it doesn´t really get dark here up north now. There was this path I like to walk as it goes between the rowhouses in a park and is practically a forest. I was just minding my own business, perhaps thinking about the new popular culture item I might need, as I often do. 10 metres ahead of me walked this woman, around 40 or so, who glanced back at me. Not just any glance but a real deer-in-the-headlights-panic-look. Okay, I checked my clothes. Hmm, I had all black clothes, as I usually do, but quite clean so no worries there. Nothing to stare really. She appeared really nervous so I slowed down a little bit to give her some space. 20 metres ahead of me now and another backwards stare...I became nervous too. What she wanted? I had to slow down even more as there was no other path to go. Was I really so scary? I couldn´t walk slower but I tried. 25 metres and third stare. Hmm, was she thinking I would make some move on her? (I prefer not to use the actual word, as that lures weirdos to comment) I was thinking if I should just yell her: "I´m a fatso with a hurting knee. I can´t go as fast as you!" No, no...that would obviously be a bad idea. 30 metres away and fourth stare to me. She is obviously going manic out there. What should I do? I got my phone out. Why can´t anybody call me now? I need something to do now! Should I pretend to call someone? That crazy woman is going to start screaming soon or something. I can´t just turn around and go back the same path as that would obviously look suspicious too. I think I´m quite gentle person but I might appear quite brooding to strangers who don´t know me. I have to admit that, yes, but this was getting just ridiculous. 35 metres and 5th glance. Still the same panic-look staring straight through me. Like all the trees and the forest disappeared and there was just her stare from the wide open eyes. Where else could I look? To my shoes? Maybe she would soon start running and get the cops to pick me up. There must be some cops patrolling somewhere near like they often do at night. I haven´t done anything! She is going crazy on her own! Then the path at last had a crossroad and she chosed to turn left with the 6th glance of course. As I had no exact destination, except to give myself mild exercise, I happily opted for the path to the right. Huh, I made sure not to watch to the left. Was she still there staring at me through the bushes? No, I couldn´t watch back. Never look back. Just go straight ahead like there is nothing out of the ordinary. Time to wipe the sweat from the forehead. What was that crazy woman doing there in the forest if she was about to panic? Too bad, that was a nice path to walk but I guess I should avoid that path from now on. Especially at night. Who knows what might happen there?
13 comments:
Guess there are weirdos everywhere! If she was that scared then why was she walking there in the first place???? Ah, well, you got the exercise you needed as well as another gorgeous photo! Have a great week, Pietari! Really good to see you back!!
Sylvia
eeeeek! good I'm not there anymore!
Don't worry - it wasn't me! :)
Have a great week!
BLOGitsePHOTOS
Fear is a nasty companion to walk with. Fear knows no reason.
Poor her.
And poor you and all the men, who are not dangerous.
very odd, why didn't she just walk faster then if she's afraid?
I often think that the whole world is crazy - and your story gives me quite
... before I forgot to say - the sky looks so beautiful ... and that is the truth
What a horrible experience. I have experienced that fear that she felt, but as some of your other commenters say-why walk there? I will not now put myself in those situations-which is sad as I don't feel I can go to woods, lonely beaches, even parks which may be quite empty on my own.
It is such a shame that you couldn't just say I AM SAFE! What a world we live in!
Good it did not turn out to be a horrible experience. Love your sky. :)
Wow, kind of a frightening story. Stay safe while you walk!
Don't let her fear keep you from the paths you like to walk on! I wonder if she will ever walk that way again!
A beautiful sky!
when i was in my early twenties i went with a group of friends to a small medieval walled town, where one of them owned an ancient place. while everybody was setling in and trying to light a fire i went for a walk. it was late afternoon, during Easter break. i left through the main gate, walked a bit along the road and started to climb the huge cliffs in the countryside. after a while i noticed a man, a policeman, staring at me some 100 mts away.i felt a bit uneasy but then i saw another policeman, also staring, in the opposite direction. both were too far to shout and i couldn´t imagined was was going on. i knew we were close to the spanish border, but not that close.so the three of us remained like that for a while, they staring and me feeling quite uneasy. finally i decided to break this kind of spell by moving back, retracing my steps back into town. they moved also but kept their distance.sudenly a woman came running through the bushes and cliffs.by now i was kind of worried but held my pace. the policemen started to move towards me. the woman eventually reached me, almost out of breath, the policemen, still looking worried, came closer and she managed to shout something like "that's not her, that's not her".still cautious, the men aproached and after carefully inspecting me from a distance, relaxed and smiled. it seems there was a mental hospital nearby and one of the patients had escaped. to this day i wonder if i did really look that insane and deranged....
Strange how midsummer can be more scary than the depths of winter. That endless daylight.
I agree with others - as a woman I wouldn't walk alone in a place I felt wasn't safe.
to get shots like this I feel happy to go anywhere (safe) alone. :P
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