Facts about Feminism | ✓

21

Guy | Girl

She was walking her Scottish terrier, Muffin, in the park on the crisp Saturday evening when she began feeling uncomfortable.

The weather was finally warming up and the hints of spring shined through the frequent thunderstorms and the flower buds sprouting on the trees. Her mood matching the change of season, she had decided to go out for a run with her puppy. Unbeknownst to her, the sun still set awfully early and it was starting to get dark when she reached the park near her house for a cool-down walk. However, a smile still decorated her face and she was feeling lighthearted and happy with the endorphins from her exercise.

A whistle echoed from one of the benches right beside her. The smile slid off her face immediately.

Two men were leering up at her from a distance. She shifted uncomfortably. Her compression shirt was sticking to her skin from her run and for the first time in her life, she felt that her running shorts were too short. She briefly turned to see one gesture towards his dick and a vulgar expression came out of his mouth.

"Show us your tits!" A voice called. 

She knew she should say something. She told herself she always would in situations like this. Defend herself and her feminist values. But for a moment there she stood frozen, scared, and alone. She knew instead of defiance, all the men could see in her eyes was fear. 

She snapped back to reality a second later and hurried along, walking faster and pretending she didn't hear them.

Suddenly, more alert, she now noticed another man lurking behind her, something she had previously not seen. He was trailing at a distance where he could stare in peace without standing too close to be a stalker. After all, men had a right to be afraid of being outed as a creep. 

Her leisurely pace soon broke into a light jog.

Arms suddenly grabbed her arms, jolting her from her hurried walk. 

"Where are you going?" 

She breathed a sigh of relief at the familiar face. She had been so occupied with getting away that she hadn't even looked in front of her. "What are you doing here?"

"This is a public park you know." He smiled warmly, calming her jittery heart. "I come here to practice soccer every Saturday evening." He gestured to where a couple of guys were kicking around a ball.

"Oh." She said stupidly, still a little winded from what happened only a few minutes ago. "I didn't know that. What a coincidence then."

"We always seem to see each other don't we?" He agreed.  A mischievous smile lit up his eyes. "Now tell me honestly, did you come here because you missed me too much? Couldn't wait until Monday detention?"

He had delusional amounts of self-confidence. "I was going on a jog with my dog. I stopped by the park for a cooldown." She pointed to Muffin, who was sniffing up a tree.

He kneeled down and ruffled Muffin's ears, just the way he liked it. "Who's a good dog?" He cooed. "You're a good dog."

She kneeled down to his level and also petted Muffin, who looked like she was enjoying all the attention.

"Were you in a rush?" He asked. "You were walking awfully fast and you looked panicked."