Maria C.
I remember the incident clearly. It was almost two years ago, 8pm in a small park behind a major road in Athens, Greece. I was 18 at the time. The park had lights and it wasn’t dark. Before that incident, I had never thought about being mugged, or harrassed or afraid in any way because of the central location of the park and the fact that it was very bright, early in the evening and surrounded by houses. I was on my way to meet a friend when I passed through the park. I saw a group of 10 boys (more or less) who seemed to be about 15 each. Immediately I thought to myself: Oh no. How scary and disturbed is that? Fearing for your life, your safety, your peace of mind when you see a large group of boys? Feeling helpless even before anything happens? I started walking faster than I normally do and I was looking at them to see if they’re looking back at me or trying to follow me. Suddenly, one of them starts walking towards me and follows me. I kept going, not knowing what to do because already feeling scared, embarrassed and helpless. While following me, he shouts at his friends: ”come see this! Look what we have here!”. Keep in mind, we’re talking about 15 year old’s that could be even younger than that. At that point, I felt like screaming. I was already walking way too fast but he could still catch up. The only thing comforting me was that soon, I’d be out of the park and into the busy streets with lots of people around to save me. Unfortunately, before that could happen another boy of the group started following me and his friend. The first guy that had started chasing me, was now trying to touch my butt. When I figured what he was attempting, I started jumping to the left and right, like a car swerving, just trying to get away. He was laughing the whole time until he got what he want. He groped me from behind when one of his friends yelled at him to go back so they could talk. He let out a disturbing laughter and stopped walking as I kept going, trying to leave the park. I can’t describe the feeling of being chased like that, by boys who are trying to harrass you and put their hands on you. I cannot put into words the thoughts that were running through my head or how disgusted I was that teenagers at that age, in 2015 felt the need to make fun of a girl and scare her in that way, so as to seem cool in front of their friends and have a laugh at someone’s fear.