“Sometimes, I just wanna grab her and shake her”

Sometimes I feel like I should be more careful who I give my phone number to. <br><br><br>This is a pretty long post, but bear with me.<br><br><br>About a year ago I gave a man my phone number while I was at work at a fast food restaurant. My shift ended about an hour after I gave him my number, and he texted me. We talked for a few days, and I got to know him a little better. Turns out he had a kid, was divorced, and was about a decade older than me. He worked weird hours, and had a lot of free time. <br><br><br>The first red flag I noticed while talking to him was when he said he was in my neighborhood. “Well, I can’t see you tonight, but maybe I can see you another time,” he said. He was in my neighborhood the next night, and the next, and the next - always just “passing by.” <br>Even though he said he was in my area, I never actually saw him, and he wouldn’t send me his location on maps. I don’t know if he was actually driving past my house, but I don’t think so. <br><br><br>Then he became pushier about us meeting up. I told him I was introverted and just didn’t like meeting people. I didn’t want to say I was scared of him because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so I said I just wasn’t ready. <br><br><br>At this point, I didn’t want to talk to him anymore. I started responding to his texts less and less. <br><br><br>A couple weeks passed, and I hadn’t heard from him. <br><br><br>I was excited because I thought he had forgotten about me or lost interest. <br><br><br>Then, one rainy day, I was at work, and he came in again. I didn’t expect to see him, and I felt a strong feeling of dread. I didn’t know how to get away from him. <br><br><br>I talked to him for a while, and a coworker pulled me aside and asked if I was okay. She said that my face had turned white and I looked terrified. I said yes, I was fine.<br><br><br>I was shaking and my hands were sweating. <br><br><br>He left, and I worked the rest of my shift, trying to ignore him, but it was hard. <br><br><br>I got a text from him when I got home, asking if I was working the next day, and I said yes. <br><br><br>I didn’t want to go to work the next day. <br><br><br>But I went in because I can’t miss work, and he was there again. <br><br><br>He stayed for an hour or so. <br><br><br>I didn’t hear from him for a few days after that. <br><br><br>In the past month I’ve heard from him a few times. <br>I always respond and say I’m good, trying to keep a distance. <br><br><br>Sometimes things he says scare me. <br><br><br>“Sometimes I just wanna grab you and shake you.” He said this after I said I don’t like being touched. <br><br><br>I don’t think he was joking, and I feel this sinking feeling in my chest when I read his texts. <br><br><br>I don’t want to see him again, but I can’t miss work. I have to be ready for him. <br><br><br>I just wanted to share this because it freaks me out. <br><br><br>Let’s not meet. Let’s not meet again, either.