Just when I thought I was out of the woods, New York knocked me off my feet, literally and figuratively.
After a full day of seeing my students around Manhattan, my heart was full. It was a little after midnight, and I was hopping on the 1 train to head home. As I waited for the train, I put my headphones in to listen to the last episode of the podcast Serial. Anyone who has listened to Sarah Koenig tell this story knows how truly gripping it is. After starting the podcast, I began to instagram a photo from my day. This may sound like a lot of things to be doing this late at night on the subway platform, but let me make this clear: I was completely aware of my surroundings.
The 1 came and people shuffled off before I got on. As I entered, I watched a big man in a trench coat and a top hat get on before me and thought:
"I love New York."
Although it was late, the train was decently crowded. I looked around quickly hoping to find a seat. A man to my right shifted over a bit, so I walked toward him and settled in, all with my phone in my hand.
I tapped the screen to work on my instagram photo so I could post it before I lost service. I was choosing a filter when, seemingly out of nowhere, an older homeless man walks by me and punches me in the face.
I was punched in the face by a homeless man on the 1 train.
Now, let's clear some things up. My head was down, focused on my photo, and the train was moving, so he never got much leverage. The incident itself did very little to hurt me physically, however, my fellow passengers on the 1 train jumped to my rescue. Before I could put together what just happened, the same man in the trench coat and top hat ran across the train and yanked this guy away from me.
After a couple sentences, I found out why he had chosen to single me out and punch me:
He thought I had taken a picture of him.
We've all seen it. People taking pleasure in someone else's plight. This was not the case with me, however, logical Meghan completely understands where he is coming from. No one should have to endure the parasitic relationship this man has dealt with. Although I was unfairly accused and wrongfully attacked, I completely understand where he is coming from.
I made it all the way home without a black eye and was greeted by my awesome roommates, Kevin and Connor, who had Trader Joe's Frozen Mixed Berries on my eye before I could even sit on the couch! Despite the crazy night it became, I'm so glad to have this to tell as part of my crazy New York story.
Stay safe!
Meghan
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