One Sunday early in the spring of 2022, a family member and I went to a local museum in New York City. We waited on a long line on the street to enter the museum to enter and see a show and enjoy the exhibits. Out on the street upon leaving, we walked against the crowd as we looked for the quickest way to public transportation. I walked ahead of my family member and after a short time, I noticed a woman in her mid-30s and a little heavy-set walking towards me but staring to her left. Her gaze never changed from its direction, and I thought, “This woman is going to bump into me on purpose it seems.” And there was no room to move out of her way. My build at 5’3” and even at the 150 lbs. I weighed was petite and light in comparison to her own build. I braced myself. As she passed me, the woman bumped me with her right arm which she used to push against my right arm. I did not say anything as she passed by me without apologizing.
Just a few minutes later, another woman similar in age and weight walked towards me. She was staring straight ahead of her with her head lifted high in a trancelike fashion and coming straight for me as if she were ready to barrel me down. I thought, “What is going on here?” With the streets still crowded, I braced myself against this second person who appeared out of nowhere as the first one also had. This one passed me on my left and with her left arm pushed against my left arm. I looked back at this woman as she passed, but she continued to walk down the street and did not seem to care she had bumped and pushed another person.
