Before this day I was pure, I had never experienced anything like this in my life. I had always thought harassment was something that was super rare, and that it would never happen to me. I thought people were not as evil as the media portrayed them to be, but I was wrong. I was enjoying the day, but then the most unexpected thing happened when I was watching a movie.
Being harassed was not something that I had expected on a day like this, but eventually this day became the day that I lost my innocence.
I woke up on a cold winter day, and decided to go to Union Square to watch the movie Paddington. I remember saying goodbye to my parents and then I went straight to the subway station. After an hour train ride, I arrived at Union Square. The weather was freezing, but the sun was shining, so I thought to myself that today was going to be an amazing day. After I bought my ticket, I went to find my seat. I chose to sit one seat away from the aisle seat, so I could put my school bag and my coat on the chair. Suddenly, an older man approached me and asked if the seat next to me was available. As the nice person that I am, I immediately smiled and said yes, then put all my things onto my lap. Soon after, the movie begun, and then the unexpected happened. He begun sitting in a way where his leg was totally invading my space but I stayed quiet, because I am a person that does not like to cause a scene. A few minutes later, he started to put his hand on my lap and started rubbing it. At first, I thought maybe he had mistaken my lap for his lap, because I had this giant coat on my lap. It was when he put his hand on my lap the second time that I realized I was being harassed.
I had no idea know what to do. Thoughts started to pop in my head. I remember thinking, Is this really happening? What should I do? Should I just run away? Should I stand up and confront him? The theater is dark, what evidence will I have? Eventually, I chose to stay quiet and pretend to not notice him. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him staring at me to see my expression. I was panicking, and I felt myself start to sweat. After a few minutes, I decided to just run out of the theater. The first thing I did was call my best friend; I remember I was quivering with fear.
“Hey Carrie,” I said on the phone while tears started pouring out of my eyes. “Um… I think I just got harassed by an older man in the theater.”
“Oh my god, Calvin are you okay?” Carrie said. “I really don’t know what to say… Stay there, I am coming to get you.”
After an hour, she came and comforted me. All I remember was feeling so thankful that I had her there to calm me down because I don’t know what I would’ve done if she wasn’t there. I thought the world was not as dirty as people think it is, but I was proven to be wrong on that day. I remember going to bed that night thinking, this is the day I lost my innocence.
If you or anyone you know is going through something, just know there is always someone there to help:
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)