This is my first post in the community, so sorry if it’s not perfect. This happened about an hour ago, so sorry for any errors or anything. I was riding the subway back to my dorm (in north philly) after dropping my boyfriend off at the train station. Being extra cautious on the subway, I sat in the seat closest to the window. A man came and sat next to me, and I glanced over to look at him. As I did this, I noticed a man sitting across from me, starring openly at me while playing with a rope in his hands. This wasn’t a small piece of rope, it was a thick boating line. I thought this was odd, so I decided to look away.

I glanced back periodically, and every time I did, he was still starring, licking his lips and tying knots in the rope. At this point I’m freaked, so I stare out of the window. As I do this, I catch his reflection. He’s openly ogling me, licking his lips and still tying knots. I get off at my stop (for my transfer north) and didn’t notice him get off.

I walked down to the platform for the north bound train and sit on a bench next to a kind looking lady. There was only about a foot or so between us, definitely not enough room for someone else to sit down. As I glance down to check the time, the same man from the train came and sat directly next to me, between the lady and me. At this point I’m freaked, but I didn’t want to make a scene, so I scooted over to the edge of the bench and kept my head down. He moved as close to me as he could, mind you still tying knots in his rope and not looking away from me. At this point I knew something was going on, but he was a very large man (maybe 6’4”, 250 pounds) so I decided to just get up and stand on the platform. He got up directly after me and stood half a step behind my back. I could feel his breath on my neck. I’m in a full-blown panic. There’re people waiting on the platform, but nobody was noticing what was happening. I decided the best thing I could do was walk up the steps and wait for the train next to the ticket booth. He didn’t follow me, so I was relived.

When the train came, I walked down the steps and sat between two ladies. He sat directly across from me. He still had the rope in his hands, tying knots. The end of the rope was in his hands, while the rest was stuffed in his pocket. The train leaves the station, and he’s back starring at me openly. He looked hungry, and not in the way that he wanted a meal. I have no words to describe the look in his eyes other then terrifying. I’ve never seen that look before. I tried to call my mom, as a comfort while I waited for my stop to come but she didn’t pick up. I kept my head down, occasionally glancing up to see him unchanged. Just tying and untying the rope.

At this point I’m thinking about escape plans. I knew I shouldn’t get off at my stop, so he wouldn’t know where I live. When I get to the stop before mine (in a busy area) I wait till the very last second to get off the train. The doors won’t stop even if you try to get them to open. Right when I hear them start to close, I jump up and sprint to the doors. I get off right as the close. I looked back and saw him try to run off as well. I could see him pressed against the doors, looking me in the eyes. I have never been more scared in my life. He was significantly bigger then me (I’m 5’5’ and 160 pounds), and the look in his eyes was unmistakably predatory. I got up onto the street and I asked another girl walking if she could walk with me to my dorm because I was so scared.

I keep thinking about the what ifs. What if I had just gotten off with everyone else? Would he have followed me? Why did he have the rope? Was he going to kill me? I’m just glad I got off in time, because I know with CERTAINTY that he wanted to hurt me. I have never seen that look in someone’s eyes before, and I never want to see it again. If I hadn’t been carful, I know he would have tried to hurt me, or worse. I just worry that he might do this again.