Violence is Never Justified: What Happened to Me While Waiting at a Bus Stop

I battled whether to speak out about this as I've always been a private person. However, I've learned I'm not an island and none of us are. We need each other for love, support, and kindness. This has been a week where most will say I'm down on my luck. Although a series of events have transpired that have made me feel upset, there was an incident yesterday that was worse. My car broke down two weeks ago, as I have taken the bus before I didn't think twice about doing so again, and have been on the bus for two weeks getting to and from work. As I was waiting for the bus yesterday, a man was already there at the stop. Please keep in mind this wasn't an isolated bus stop but at the Bus Terminal where there is usually more security, sheriffs, a lot of drivers on their break, and for the most part more people. I sat down and although I usually open a book to read, this time I was talking to my son, since we were riding the bus together. We sat down and were talking when this man who was at close proximity to me started insulting me. I ignored him as much as I could. Most of what he said was indistinguishable, the mask might have contributed to this as well as if he was on something. He kept asking my nationality and asking me if I was scared of him. I got up and told my son we should leave. This man proceeded to follow me and started poking me on the face. My son was going to call 911 but the man kept threatening he would knock me senseless if my son so much as took out his phone. He kept telling me he would knock me out to which I responded he leave me alone and not dare talk to my son. He punched me then, on the left side of my face. I toppled over (something I didn't realize until my son told me, I assume it was the fact that our instincts take over when something like this happens) and tried to look out for the sheriffs, as I said the bus station usually has a cop patrolling, they were no where to be seen. He kept following me and threatening me, a lady tried to intervene telling him to leave me alone. He pushed her so hard she hit herself among the concrete benches. She was upset and was mad at me, asking me what I did to provoke him. I said I didn't know the man and was simply waiting for my bus. The man left and I called the cops. They told me they couldn't do nothing about it and would talk to him if they saw him, the officer said he didn't want to minimize my situation but there was not much they could help me with. Now, I want to say a few things about this.

* Although as a child I lived in a house where domestic violence was the norm, where every weekend my stomach would hurt knowing what was about to happen, the punches were never geared towards me.

* This is the first time I was physically assaulted. I have been threatened, told I'm going to get shot, and more while taking public transportation but never was I physically assaulted.

* I felt gratitude for the lady that tried to help me, putting her life in danger to protect my own. As women we have to look out for each other and I will forever be grateful for her moment of courage where she did what she felt was right.

* What hurt me the most was that my son had to see me getting hit. I know he felt hopeless and will think about this more times than I wish he would. I wish I could protect him from the ugly of this world. I once read this quote "This world isn't heaven, so don't expect it to be" and I've tried my best to teach him that bad things happen but God is always there with us in the midst of them. He is a kind soul and I know he is sad he felt he couldn't protect me. What he doesn't know is that his love does that every single day.

* God was with us, even in that moment, when that man threw his punch, I knew it could have been a lot worse. I'm not sure if it was the angle of where we stood but his punch only did a fraction of the damage it could have done. I know God was there.

* The kindness of my friend and my bosses after this happened really make me feel loved and cared for.

I want to say that when the lady asked me what I did to provoke him is something that struck me. As I stated, I lived in a household where domestic violence was rampant and I got to see the dynamics of an abuser and the victim. When someone is abusive there is no need for provocation, saying there is provocation shifts the blame to the victim instead of the abuser, his should never be done. No one has the right to hit another individual. I don't tell this story for the sake of telling it but to speak out against violence. My hope is that one day we as women can feel safe while using public transportation, while walking to our cars when it's dark, and many other mundane things we do where we fear for our safety. I hope I can somehow contribute with my actions to help others who have ever experienced fear and pain at the hands of abusive individuals.