 t was 10 PM, when I left the movie theatre, which was the starting action of one of the weirdest, scariest and most confusing subway trips I have ever been on in the twenty plus years I have rode the subway.
 I caught a N train, where the seating arrangement has a double L-shape look to it. I sat at the window of one of the two-seaters that were perpendicular to the window. At 34th St, a man got on the train and sat directly in front of me.
He was an old tired looking black man, around 40 years old and was a little taller than me. He wore a fedora hat, a long gray overcoat, a striped shirt, dark blue pants and black shoes. He had a slight belly and a Hitler mustache on his face. He wore a blank look on his face for most of the trip.
I noticed through the reflection of the window that he kept glancing at me, like he was coming on to me and was trying to work up the strength to talk to me. Or maybe he liked the light blue dress shirt I was wearing. Regardless, I didn't acknowledge him throughout the trip and just kept listening to my classical music, which included Beethoven's Ode to Joy, blaring through my ears. Then halfway into the trip, around Canal St, he switched his seat and sat right next to me on the two-seaters. It wasn't like the train was crowded or a wave of people came on the train to force him out. There were plenty of empty seats on the train, yet this guy decided to sit next to me. Now the last time, the only time it happened, I ended up getting robbed. That was the first thought that entered my mind when he sat down and then I started to think that maybe this guy wants to sexually molest me. This was the point, when I started to pay attention to this guy. Living in New York, something like this happening to you isn't unlikely, but I think for me, I find it surprising that it is happening to me. Now I was highly aware of his movements now. I didn't look at him, but I could feel his elbow rubbing lightly against mine and his foot also brushing up against my foot. He was kind of squishing and crowding me, but nothing too serious. My view now obscured, I assumed that he looked at me. It sure felt like it. Whatever the case, nothing was happening, so I gave the guy the benefit of the doubt. Maybe this was all in my head.
 I got off at 36th St. Just as I was about to reach the door, I saw in the corner of my eye, that he was getting up and getting off the train too. He slowly walked behind me and stood behind the subway map that I was standing in front of. I could feel him staring at me. I then moved down the platform, which in turn, made him move down the platform. It was official. He was following me. Now I started to devise a plan. What was I going to do? I ran off a range of ideas from just running away, confronting him or maybe get physical with him and just beat his ass. I ruled out the last option when I thought that he might have carried a weapon. Also, I can't fight. I decided that whatever I was going to do, I was going to stage it in a crowded area and I was going to talk to the booth clerk.
So I got on the R train and sat down. He followed suit. He was standing at the end of the train while I was sitting in the middle of the train. I watched him as he stood with that same grim look he had throughout this whole trip. I couldn't believe that this guy was scaring me, but it was just the calm tone of his demeanor that made him so scary like he didn't have a care in the world. He carried a white tote bag and I swore I could see that there was a white concentric light inside illuminating it, as if he left a flashlight on. Slowly he made his way to me and stood at the door, only five feet away. At that point, my plan was to confront him near the subway booth, so I could easily tell the booth clerk to contact the police if anything happen (or the booth clerk would see something happen). I was going to do this at 86th, but then he would know what stop I used, so I got off at 59th St. I got off the train and walked up the stairs. To no one's surprise, he got off the train too and walked to the stairs. I then stood next to the wall, which was hidden from his view until he reached the top of the stairs. Now, I won't lie to you. I was nervous as hell, but I wasn't "scared" nervous. In fact, I was sort of excited and interested of what was going to happen when we both came face to face, as adrenaline flowed through my body. So what happened when we he reached the last top step and came within view? He walked right by me, gave me a slight smile and nod, waved good-bye and walked away. The guy waved at me like we were friends saying good-bye for the night. I looked at him and thought "WTF just happened!" I found that my heart was racing and pounding like I was about to have a heart attack. I just couldn't believe what had happened. What bothers me the most is that I didn't find out the motive to why this guy was following me. Did he want to rob me? Attack me? Wanted to make conversation? Was he talking to me on the train, but I didn't hear it because Beethoven was blaring in my ears? Was he following me in the first place? Why was he doing, what he was doing? What were his stupid intentions? Did he have intentions? (If he did want to robe me, he was easily noticed.)
 I became very paranoid as I just stood there and waited. I waited to see if he would return. I waited until the next R train came into the station and got on board. I was constantly checking the car and the adjacent cars to see if he was on the train. When I got off at 86th St, I waited a couple of minutes to see if he was there. He wasn't. When I got on the street, I expected to see him there. He wasn't. I then walked briskly home, always turning around to see if I was followed. The guy really did a number to me. I felt that my security was breached somehow. I didn't feel safe, but I did sleep well that night.
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