I've been stalked by a man in the woods for eight years.

I have been stalked by an old man in a red parka for the last eight years. <br><br>It started when I was 16. I used to jog a lot and, after a while, started to notice a man in a red parka following me on some of my routes. The first few times I saw him, I thought nothing of him. I even assumed he was lost. I would see him every now and then, but he seemed to keep to himself. I remember him being a lot older. I think he may have been in his 70s? I'm not sure, but he looked old enough to be a grandpa so I would often brush it off as an old man being curious. He never did anything threatening, he just kind of looked at me and kept to himself. <br><br>But then I started to notice him more. It would be really hot out some days, so he would be sweating in his parka. I realized at this point it was weird, but I had no way of talking to him or reporting him because he would always keep to himself. I kept going on runs for a while, but it would always make me super uneasy. I tried to change my route, but I would still see him. I started carrying pepper spray with me, and he noticed. He didn't seem too amused, and it made me really uncomfortable. One day I saw him and I got really scared, so I turned around and ran home before he could notice me.<br><br>He followed me.<br><br>I didn't realize at first, but eventually, I heard a rustling in the bushes behind me. I turned and saw him running at me. The only thing I remember is pepper spraying him. The memory is foggy but I recall a lot of screaming, and him covering his eyes before I ran away. I didn't stop running until I got home.<br><br>I didn't go jogging for a long time after that. I was so scared it would happen again. Now that I think about it after all these years, I should have reported it to the police. But I was young and didn't know how to handle it. Years went by, and I started jogging again. I never saw him until a year ago.<br><br>I was moving into a new house with my fiancé and was carrying a box through the front door when I noticed a man in a red parka standing on the other side of the road. I couldn't believe it. It had been years since that day, and I didn't see him again until now. I looked at him and he looked back at me. He eventually walked away, but I knew it was him. I didn't tell my fiancé what happened because I didn't want to freak him out. But I told my best friend, and she insisted I tell him. I didn't for a long time, I just kept it in my head. I felt like it would make him uncomfortable, and I didn't want him to get involved.<br><br>I saw him again a few months later. I won't go into detail, but it was just as terrifying as the other times. I finally broke down and told my fiancé. He was understandably upset, and I felt terrible for not telling him sooner. A few weeks ago, he found out where the man lived. He told me he was going to go talk to him. I didn't want him to do it. I told him to leave it alone and that it was in the past, but he wouldn't let it go. <br><br>He went to the man's house and he wasn't home. But, his wife was. She answered the door and my fiancé tried to explain the situation. I don't know the full details yet, but she called the police and started crying. She didn't know anything about her husband stalking me, but she did know he was in an accident a few years ago and now has permanent scarring on his face. <br><br>The police didn't end up doing anything, but my fiancé and I filed restraining orders. I haven't seen him in a while, but sometimes I still get the feeling I'm being watched.