Stranger on the bus (2017)

I was 21 years old and on my way home from work. At the time, I was working in a jewellery store, and I remember that I was exhausted that day. I had been serving customers all day, and my feet were hurting so bad from standing on that concrete floor for 7 hours. (We were not allowed to sit down in the store).

I was going to visit a friend after work, and I was so tired, so I went into the store and bought myself an iced coffee. I brought it onto the bus, because I wanted to drink it on my way home.

I went inside the bus, and sat down at the very back of it. (I had taken the bus for many years at this point, and that was usually where I'd always sit).

I was wearing my headphones, listening to music, and I really just wanted to be quiet and have some time to rewind, after that work day.

The bus was half full, but right before it was about to leave, two men entered the bus. One of them was blonde, and appeared to be the same age as me, and the other one had brown hair, and seemed to be in his late twenties, or maybe in his early thirties. At first glance, it was obvious that they were either really drunk or high. 

The younger one was very loud and was almost acting as if he was a wrestler who was about to start a fight. They both walked unsteadily over to the back of the bus (where I was sitting). I also noticed that they both had a strong chemical scent as they sat down.

It didn't take many seconds before the younger one started to look at me several times. He then started talking to his friend out loud, and turned his head multiple times. He made it very obvious that he was watching me, and also had a smirk on his face while doing it.

I didn't want to engage in any conversation, so I just kept my headphones in, because I was starting to feel uncomfortable. (We only sat 1 meter apart).

Before they entered, I had already opened my iced coffee, and I had taken a few sips from it. But I was so uncomfortable, so I mostly held it in my hand for the next few minutes, because I didn't want to draw any more attention to myself.

For the next 7–8 minutes, the younger man kept looking at me from time to time, while also yelling random things for the whole bus to hear. The bus driver was sick of his behavior, and kept glancing in the rearview mirror angrily. The rest of the people on the bus, kept turning their heads backwards to look as well, because everyone was fed up by his behavior.

The older one was not being loud or rude like the younger one was, but you could tell that he was also drunk or high by the way he was speaking and moving his body.

I was still holding my ice coffee in my hand, and I had just taken another sip because I was really exhausted. After I had taken the sip, the younger man leaned himself over to me and started to speak. I felt intimidated, but I took my headphones out to hear what he was trying to say.

He mumbled something, but I didn't understand a word of what he was saying. Then he just grabbed my ice coffee out of my hand, and started drinking from it.

In that very moment, I almost had an emotional breakdown and had to fight every fibre in my body, to keep my tears from rolling down my face.

I felt harassed and really fucking violated.

He almost drank my entire ice coffee recklessly, and then tried to hand it back to me. I was angry, and I told him that he could keep it now, as I got up and moved past him to find a new seat. Then I walked to the mid-section of the bus, and sat down.

I put my headphones back in, because I needed to calm myself down, but I noticed that all of the other passengers on the bus started to turn their heads again, and then they also looked at me afterwards.

The man who stole my ice coffee was clearly offended that I moved away from them and he was yelling something rude to me, but I didn't want to hear whatever it was that he was yelling. So I just kept my headphones in.

A few minutes later, the bus driver stops at a bus stop on "Feviktoppen", which is the most central part of a placed called Fevik. And the man who stole my ice coffee, gets off, pull his pants down, and starts to pee i front of the bus. The bus driver was so fed up with him, that he just started driving while he was still having a piss.

The coffee-stealing man notices that the bus is leaving without him, and he starts running with his pants down, and knocks several times with his hands on the window while he is shouting.

All of the other passengers on the bus, was glad that he was gone. (And so was I).

A few minutes later, it's my turn to get off the bus. Finally. I was so overwhelmed and I just wanted to get off as quickly as possible. But as I walked towards the doors, I noticed that the older man with brown hair (who sat next to the man who stole my ice coffee) also got up and started walking behind me towards the door. Nobody else was getting off at that bus stop, besides me, and now - him.

I was getting nervous, and I could feel my heart starting to race. I was scared that he was going to follow me or act aggressively towards me.

I quickly went off the bus and I started walking very fast. The brown haired man walked right behind me. He tried to keep up with me, but I was walking so fast at this point. I still had my headphones in, when I heard him yelling something to me. I didn't turn around. But then I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I quickly pulled my headphones out aggressively. Frightened and angry, I turned around. My heart was beating outside my chest, and the brown haired man stood in front of me.

Our eyes met, and I took a few steps back. I was confused about what his intentions were. He instantly realized that I was afraid of him, and he apologized to me. He then says: "I just wanted to explain to you that I really don't know the person who stole your coffee. I only just met him today, because we had been partying earlier today, and I'm so sorry that he behaved the way he did, and that he took your coffee. I don't know him, and I'm not from around here. And I honestly don't know where we were going either. Here, I want to give this to you. For your coffee".

He then raises his palm up towards me, with 22 norwegian krones (in coins), looks at me and smiles.

A bit surprised, and needing a few seconds to understand what was actually happening, I told him that I appreciated the offer, and that it was very kind of him, but that it wasn't his fault, so I kindly rejected the money.

I looked at him and realized how skinny he was, and how much his clothes were worn out.

He kept raising his hand towards me and insisted that I should have the money. "Please, take it" he said. His eyes lit up and he kept smiling.

I accepted the money, and he was glad.  Then I thanked him, and he asked me which direction he should walk if he was going back to Arendal (where our bus ride originally started). I pointed him into the right direction, and we both looked at each other and smiled, gently - before we parted ways.

As soon as I had turned my back to him, I felt really emotional, and immediately burst into tears and started crying, because I was so touched and moved by his action.

Now, it's been 7 years since that incident. 

I don't remember what his face looks like, and I probably wouldn't recognize him if I saw him. But I will never forget the kindness and love that I felt in that moment, from that man. 

From a stranger on the bus.