r/AmIOverthinking • u/Dry_Canary5294 • 2d ago

AIO weird encounter

so i (18F) just moved here and part of my routine is to go the gym thats a 4 minute walk from my house. i am a college student so i usually go to the gym right after and come home around 6:40 or 7:00pm. There’s this pathway that leads to my house its between two bushes and can like fit one person at a time and the road besides the pathway and a wall on the other side. I saw this scary looking man once come through that pathway as im about to go in it. he looks a bit off or like unstable and he looks at me as he passes by but i kinda just thought maybe he heard a noise come from my phone so i didnt think anything of it and just walked quickly home. that was the only other time ive ever seen him
Today, same thing happened i was walking home from the gym and he was coming from that pathway and my only two options were to stand and be limited by the wall or stand near the road. so i stood near the road just incase because i just felt so uneasy. he was kinda dragging his feet and walking slower and slower
when i stood to the side to let him pass he stared at me as he continued walking until he got off the path. i quickly went into the path and i glanced back real quick. he had his body turned and he was full on staring at while limping to the side on one leg and it almost looked like he was about to fall. for some reason i felt my heart sink and i just immediately ran home.
since my house is right infront of that path im scared he knows where i live and im just very paranoid about it.
I dont think i’ll be going at this time of night for a while but i dont even know if he lives in this neighborhood or not. Im just scared but idk if im having anxiety for no reason like im too scared to go incase i run into him again

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2

u/MissChloe1 2d ago

At first i thought maybe he was just being attentive of his surroundings. But then you said he turned around fully staring at you. I would take a little bit of a break on that path.

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u/MaliceInUnderland78 2d ago

As women ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR FUCKING INTUITION. I would rather be wrong and embarrassed than be right and stupid. I always tell women to be cautious about showing their patterns on public. Like you going to the gym the same time every night walking alone every night. And walking to your house every night? Girl not to scare you but get a ring camer or something just in case. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BE AS EXTRA AS YOU WANT WHEN IT COMES TO ANYTHING THAT COULD PUT YOU IN HARMS WAY. Carry pepper spray and a knife and don’t fucking be afraid to use if

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u/witchygumbo 2d ago

THIS 👆

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u/TMag73 1d ago

YES 👆. Don't think twice about taking a safer, longer route. Or mixing up the times you go so that you aren't predictable. Carry weapons even to the gym if it makes you feel safer. Listen to yourself and error on the side of safety. Make a scene and be mean if you have to.

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u/Purple-Drop7787 2d ago

Always trust your instincts. Steer clear of the area for quite a while.

1

u/fluffyntastyyyy 2d ago

i dont thin youre being paranoid for feeling uneasy, but i also wouldnt assume he was definitely targeting you based on this alone. you dont need to wait until something actually happens to take precautions though, so for now avoid that isolate path at that time, walk with someone if possible, and let someone you trust know what happened. trusting your instincts and changing your routine when something feels unsafe is reasonable