This happened back in 2014. I went out on a night out for Halloween during my first year of university. I was wearing high heeled boots and a leather jacket. Over the course of the night, drunk me had taken them off and left them at our group’s table, due to being uncomfortable.

By the end of the night i’d practically danced my way to near-sobriety and I went to my group’s table. However they’d given up the table, and my boots and jacket were nowhere to be seen. Someone had stolen them.

Whatever, they weren’t expensive, and I rarely wore them anyway. Now, however, I had to walk the 15 minutes back to my accommodation. I didn’t have money for a taxi, so I thought I’d just walk slowly. I asked one guy, the asshole in the group that everyone hated, if he could just keep me company because he was tall. He laughed, said no, and walked off, dragging the only girl who was also shoeless with him.

So I was walking alone, shoeless in a busy city centre, watching out for broken glass or anything else that was harmful or disgusting. Everyone else was so far ahead that I couldn’t even see them, but I just kept going.

I was half way to my place, when I was stopped by a middle eastern man. The city was very culturally diverse. He asked if I was okay, and I was grateful someone cared enough to make sure I was alright. He offered to help me walk home, so I accepted for at least part of the way. He was very kind, and told me his name was Omar. He started saying how beautiful he thought I was and how lucky he was to have found me, which unsettled me slightly.

Once I was around the corner from my place, I thanked Omar and said I’d walk the rest of the way on my own. He instantly looked offended. “Don’t you want to invite me in for a cup of tea to thank me?” I told him no, because I don’t know him. He kept hold of my wrist. “Well can I have a kiss for helping you?” Again, I declined, and his grip tightened. “Well, do I get a hug for being your friend?” By this point I just wanted him to let go so I gingerly gave him a hug. He then grabbed me and tried to kiss me, but I pressed my lips together and instead he just licked up my face.

I finally get free, and start walking away. He follows me. I speed up, and so does he. I abandon my check for glass on the floor and begin sprinting, now terrified as I hear him running too. I get out my phone and call my friend, Rob, who I beg to help me. Omar is no longer following me, but I needed someone to keep me safe. He agrees, and gets to my flat not long after I do with a knife in case Omar was still there.

I told the people in my group, and they were mortified they left me alone. I returned home for a week because I was thoroughly shook up. Now on a night out I make sure everyone is close by so it doesn’t happen again to me or to anyone else.

So, Omar, let’s not meet.