I was glad the line was moving quickly as I boarded the bus. I felt wary of Allen's persistent offers to take me home; he didn't seem so safe after all. This made me nervous, and I remembered Ms. Anderson had advised me about being too trusting. After I paid my fare and took a seat, I retrieved the employment folder and took out my cell phone to call Ms. Anderson.

I explained to her my run in with Allen when he approached me at the bus stop to offer me a ride home and how persistent he was. I expressed my concern that he might show up at the caf� in the morning. Ms. Anderson agreed to let me start work on Wednesday morning and she encouraged me to discuss asking my parents for help getting my car repaired. I committed to calling them when I got home and to alert them about my encounter with Allen.

The change of my start date at the caf� allows me to have my hours at the community center adjusted to the afternoons, once I get off work at the caf�. I had not informed Ms. Anderson about my other employment; however, it will not impact my hours at the caf�, so there was no urgency to divulge her about it.

While I was on the bus, I wondered if Allen would follow behind to see which stop I got off. The thought heightened my anxiety about getting home. After noting my apparent distress, the lady who had seen Allen exit his car, reassured me that she had observed him driving away. I let out a sigh of relief.

"I see you appear to be concerned. Is that individual stalking you, or is he a disgruntled ex?"

"No, ma'am. He's not my ex, and I don't think he's stalking me. I encountered him at the coffee shop. He seemed amiable, and he mentioned that he had just moved here. He gave off an impression of being compassionate, but at the end of the day, he's still a stranger whom I don't know. It's funny how we can share a space or even a few words with someone and yet, they can still feel like a complete mystery."

"My dear, those are often the most dangerous individuals because they are unknown to anyone but tend to be excessively friendly to everyone, ensuring that no one becomes suspicious of them. Please be careful, and if you suspect he is following you, don't hesitate to notify the police."

"Thank you, I will. I'm grateful you noticed him drive away because I was concerned he might follow behind the bus to determine where I reside. He never disclosed his residence, but he inquired about my location. I refrained from sharing any other personal details, only talking about my college graduation and my job search."

"You were very wise not to disclose your personal information and to keep it private. Some young ladies are easily deceived in such situations and later face the consequences of their bad decisions the hard way. Your parents would be proud of the mature manner in which you handled the situation."