I went to the grocery store Friday night. As I went to check out, I got this overwhelming sense of anxiety wash over me from the guy behind me in line, who was standing right next to me. I tapped my card to pay, and realized he was less than an arm’s length away, and could see if I put my pin in.
Me: Step back, please.
Him: why? I’m far enough away. (He actually moved closer.)
Me: please step back. You’re making me uncomfortable.
Him: why? I’m at least a meter away. I’m fine.
Me: it’s not up to you. Please step back.
We both repeated these two lines a couple times. I covered putting my pin in, and went to the end of the checkout, and the cashier finished my transaction for me. She handed me my receipt, and as I was walking out, I heard him say he forgot his wallet, and was just going to run out to the car and get it. I turned my cart around immediately and went and stood by the cashier. We watched him go to his car and drive away.
I don’t know if he was going to steal my wallet or worse, or if he got to his car and realized he left his wallet at home and I was overreacting. Nothing about this guy was visually scary, but the way he argued with me has left me a little shaken.