Violated

I barely slept a wink last night. As I reluctantly peeled myself from my bed, I can't help but feel uneasy and grumpy, like a dark cloud hovering over my head. I quickly muttered a silent prayer "Please, let today be a good day". Then, I hopped on the next bus to Manhattan. I'm babysitting today. 

Most of my waking hours are spent on the upper west side of the island, where I used to work, attend classes and recently, babysit around the neighborhood (it's interesting to note that my clientele are at least half Asian). The sun shone brightly and a cool breeze drifted through the air as I got off the train and made my way towards the apartment. The traffic light ahead of me turned red as I approached the street, so I paused my pace and waited at the edge of the pavement as I absent-mindedly watched the traffic zoom pass.

Just then, I felt a hand grab my derriere. Instantly, my heart leaped to my throat in shock. In response, I whipped my head around and hissed "Excuse me?" By then, nobody was behind me and I caught a glimpse of the culprit, brown-skinned, middle-aged, short and lean walking briskly away from the scene. I only saw his back. But it was too late. In a few seconds, he was gone.

Shaking from fury and cursing under my breath, I resumed my journey and went on with life. What was I to do? Yell at him? Throw my shoe at him? Chase after him? Make a scene? I felt so violated and defeated, letting this lowlife pest escape without consequences of any sort. He got away so easily. Argh, I'm just so pissed! As I was ranting about this experience to a close friend, he insensitively remarked, "Try to forget about it. Just relax". Erm, hello? Fine, I've only been violated with an ass grab but imagine saying this to a rape victim? I read a number of sex abuse stories where victims (especially those in the Eastern world) were coerced into silence, having to brush away these unacknowledged feelings of violation, fury and guilt as if its a fly on a white wall. I can only imagine the  trauma of victims of sex abuse and rape, whose terrifying experiences must have been amplified a million times. 

Terrible.

And may all lowlife pests like this dirty old man be struck senseless by lighting.