erin mccann |Verified account

this middle-aged businessman was angry that I'd complained about him publicly. He made sure in his email that I knew he knew where I lived.

I lived alone at the time in a not-very-secure building on the hill. So I stopped at the police department on my way home.

Showed them the emails, said I was scared. The officer told me he couldn't really help. He'd made a note of it, in case something happened.

I dunno that made me feel better. Like if I got attacked by this guy at least my earlier concern would be part of the narrative.

I walked home, searched my apartment in fear. No one was there.

But I kept a weapon -- sometimes a knife, sometimes a mag lite -- by the door and by the bed for months.

All because some guy was mad about something I'd said online.

Nothing ever happened, and I forgot about that guy and his small stupid website for years.