For the past two weeks since I published this post, I have been en-route to seeking legal protection against the man who is harassing me in my neighborhood-someone who I am almost 100% certain is also a criminal.

This has taken a lot of energy, fear keeps me up at night, and navigating this process alone has been an existential nightmare. As afraid as I am that this man will hurt me, I try to take it one day at a time and stay anchored in the vision of living to publish my anthology, and even longer, to fulfill my highest purpose.

I pray that my time on Earth will end peacefully or at least with some dignity; not at the hands of some random loser who stole my life and/or quality of life because he was angry that I set a boundary.

The resentment I feel towards him is very real. I am deeply angry that this random man has forced himself into my life in such an invasive way. I would feel safer if he were locked up, at least until I move on to my next chapter.

As of now, the legal system is the only “male protection” I have. I can’t say I am not afraid to use it, but I definitely do not feel guilty about doing so.