Today, November 1, I was sitting in the back of the bus, next to the window. I had sunglasses on and earbuds in. It was 8:30 in the morning. A man got on and sat next to me and started talking to me. I took an earbud out of my ear and he said, “What’s your name, sweetheart?” I replied, “I’m not your sweetheart.” “What’s your name, I asked,” he continued as if I said nothing. I put my earbud back in as he was asking if I had a boyfriend. He was pressed up against me, staring at me. I did the best I could to eliminate contact between us, leaning into the window and turning my head away. I thought about getting away, but he would have to let me out, as he was in the outside seat, or I would have to practically crawl over him, which I was not willing to do. He continued to press into me and I continued to try to ignore him, while waiting for him to do something else. I was wound up and expecting him to touch me, imagining grabbing his hand and sho uting “What is your hand doing on my body?” and asking the bus driver to call the police. I looked around for potential allies and saw none. He joked and gestured to a friend in another seat. I felt trapped.

Eventually, he moved and soon after got off the bus. I got to my destination and walked for a couple of hundred feet, glad to be free, before I started shaking and sobbing. I wondered if I was crazy. I finished crying, took a few deep breaths, and went to work.

Submitted my Anonymous on November 1st

Location: 96 Bus around 9th and U St.

Time of Harassment: Morning Rush Hour (5A-9:30A)