Let’s not meet again. This incident happened approximately 18 years ago, in 2008. It’s hard to believe that so much time has passed since then. Two friends, both teenagers at the time, decided to visit one of their favorite spots in Sydney, Australia, a suburb called Newtown. Back in those days, Newtown had a vibrant alternative scene, filled with quirky shops, bars, and unique Gothic finds. They even held a festival called the “Under the Blue Moon” festival. However, it’s sad to see how much Newtown has changed since then.
The girls were 17 and 18 years old, enjoying their school holidays. As they finished exploring their usual shops, trying out new places, and grabbing some food, they headed to the train station to catch a ride home. It was around 6 PM, and darkness was starting to set in as they settled onto a platform bench to wait for their train.
Both girls were dressed in their signature alternative style, complete with spiky wrist cuffs, the kind that had fake metal spikes protruding from them. It was a look they wore with pride. As they sat talking, they noticed an older man, possibly in his 60s or 70s, take a seat near them. They exchanged uneasy glances, silently agreeing that his proximity was off-putting. They tried their best to ignore him, focusing on their conversation.
Out of nowhere, the man turned to them and said, “Well, young ladies, you shouldn’t be out at this time—there are many weirdos around.” It was an ironic comment coming from someone who seemed to fit that description perfectly. He continued, “Now, if you are ever in danger, you run. Run and don’t look back. The moment you look back, that’s when a creeper gets you, baby girl.”
At that point, both girls were taken aback. What was this man thinking? Who gave him the right to give such unsettling advice? Just when they thought it couldn’t get any worse, he leaned over and kissed one girl on the shoulder. She flinched, her mind racing with alarm. This guy clearly had no sense of personal boundaries.
He went on about safety, but it was hard to pay attention given the unsettling vibe he radiated. In a bizarre twist, he grabbed the friend’s wrist where her spiky bracelet was secured. “These can be used as a weapon, you know!” he exclaimed, before yanking it off her wrist and tossing it onto the train tracks. The girls were in disbelief, wide-eyed and horrified. What kind of person does that?
Feeling panic rise within her, one girl whispered to the other that they needed to find the station guard. But before they could make a move, their train arrived. They wasted no time and sprinted toward the far end of the carriage, desperate to put distance between them and the creepy man. They were terrified he would follow them, but luckily, he stayed behind.
As the train pulled away, they couldn’t help but glance back at him, flipping him off from the safety of their carriage. He was muttering to himself, apparently oblivious to their gesture. The girls let out a sigh of relief, still shaken by the encounter.
In the years that followed, they returned to Newtown many times, but thankfully, their creeper dude never made another appearance. However, they still mourned the loss of the spiky wrist cuff, a quirky piece that had become a part of their identities. It served as a strange reminder of a night that echoed the unpredictability of life, where encounters can go from mundane to surreal in a matter of moments.
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