One day, when I was just 14 years old, something unusual happened. I was walking down the street, heading to a friend’s house, when a woman approached me.

She seemed friendly enough, with a warm smile, but there was something about her that made me feel both curious and cautious. Without any warning, she gave me a hug. I was taken aback, not really sure what to make of the situation.

It felt strange that someone I didn’t know would inquire about my family, but she seemed sincere. I gave her a brief response, still trying to process the whole interaction. Her concern seemed genuine, but my mind couldn’t quite grasp why she was so interested in me at that moment.

A few minutes passed, and then the woman lowered her voice, almost as if she were sharing a secret. She told me she had noticed something unsettling while she was watching me. Apparently, a man had been following me from a distance. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized what she was saying. I hadn’t noticed anyone, but hearing it from her made the situation seem all the more real.