walking at night

Last Saturday night, I planned on driving to my boyfriends place, for a surprise visit. But after I couldn’t find a parking spot, I gave into the fact that I had to walk. I don’t usually feel unsafe in the area where I live – I walk to school pretty much every day. But at night, the confidence that I feel walking alone in West Campus changes.

As I was walking the mile or so to his place, I passed by the porches of fraternities and other homes with groups of loud, drunk boys. Sometimes I would see other people, walking alone and in groups. Some people were waiting for the bus. Vans and SUVs drove near me, sometimes slower than I would have liked. The streets were darker and more empty than I would prefer. Several things that I remember while I’m walking don’t help this overwhelming anxiety that I’m feeling.