Hello my fellow Steemians ! This is Layla again, it is really hard for me to write this down but I have something to get off my chest, I never told anyone about this even to my parents, but I think this is the right time and the right place to share my story. So today I took the courage to write this down for you guys.
Check out my last post + verification :
https://steemit.com/steemit/@ricegum/explore-the-fashion-world-with-a-steemit-girl
This happened when I went to the Paris Fashion Week. Throughout the course of this week I had the pleasure to attend to 5 fashion shows, from starting designers to the widely-known names amongst us. The city offers so much to see but especially during this time it is such a pleasure for the eye walking around here. So many well and creatively dressed people everywhere from around the world. Even some grandpas here seem to have more style than the younger generation . The people that is visiting the shows is the most interesting and one of a kind. I saw men wearing feather dresses and women freezing in their transparent summer looks with 6°C outside. Can you imagine that? That’s fashion week from the outside.
I usually have my boyfriend with me, but he was sick. I decided to go alone. Most of the people at the fashion week was very kind. Everyone was super helpful, people helped me cross the street, I couldn't find an elevator so I asked a guy to help me find it, he was such a gentleman. I had a blast. Around midnight I was pushing my way to the metro station to make sure I didn't miss the last train. There were still huge crowds everywhere.
A tall man at a crosswalk started talking to me, asking me if I have a cigarette and then he asked me if I need help. I politely declined, but he kept insisting. The light changed and I crossed the street. I didn't realize he followed me until I made it into the station and the crowds thinned out. There were only a few people and suddenly the man was there. He offered to help me again, and again I declined. He insisted, grabbed me into the elevator. He started telling me I was pretty and smelled good and when the door closed he tried to force me to kiss him. I kept pushing him away and he kept trying to kiss and grope me, leave smears of sweaty drool kisses on my face as I turned away. I always thought that if I were in this situation I would fight back, but instead, I was just desperate to not escalate the situation to violence. I was sitting down and he was basically on top of me, and trapped as I was in that tiny elevator I couldn't stand up, get leverage, or get away.
The doors of the elevator opened and finally, there were a crowd of people who went to see the show. He pulled away. A train came to a stop at that exact moment and I rolled onto it so fast I nearly knocked a an old lady over. As the doors closed behind me he waved, yelling "Don't forget me!"
Trust me, I won't. I know it sounds stupid, but I really thought I was going to fight back and never let these things happen but I wasn't ready for this. The world is not safe especially when you are a woman and alone, I encourage all the ladies to always have a friend with them.
Cheers,
Layla