She overheard a young woman say two men were following her in a store — one simple question helped get her to safety
Maintaining awareness in public places can help someone notice when another person may need support. A content creator and entrepreneur, Dionne, was shopping in a store when she noticed a young girl who seemed worried while she spoke on the phone. The girl mentioned that she believed two men were following her, which caught the woman's attention. She continued shopping but kept an eye on the situation. Later, she saw the girl near the store entrance, still on the phone and appearing unsure about leaving. The woman later shared the experience on Instagram on August 5, 2026, through her account @_mamadionne. The post revealed how her one simple question soon became an important moment for the teenager.
Dionne walked over and asked, "Are you okay?" The girl said no and explained that she believed the men were following her. She said one man had looked at her and smiled while she was standing in line. Later, she noticed two men near the entrance and became afraid to leave. The content creator then asked her to walk outside with her and stayed beside her. A short distance from the store, the girl quietly pointed out three men sitting on a bench and said they were the ones she feared. Dionne kept talking with her as they walked, asking who she was trying to reach and where she needed to go.
She learned that the girl was only 16 and was trying to reach a nearby train. The teenager had also been shaken by hearing about another girl who had recently been found dead nearby. Dionne decided not to drive her because she could not be certain about the circumstances, but she did not leave her alone. Instead, she walked with her toward the train station and continued talking to keep her calm. She also reminded the teenager that she made a good choice by staying inside the store when she felt unsafe. A calm response can help someone feel safer when they are already frightened and unsure about what to do.
Before parting ways, the content creator explained what the girl should do if something similar happened again. She advised her to approach store employees or another trusted adult instead of trying to handle the situation alone. The experience also left Dionne concerned about the safety issues young girls may face while simply traveling around their communities. She stressed that children should be able to go about their day without carrying such fears.
Black woman looking at someone. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Andrea Piacquadio)
Thankfully, some good Samaritans extend help to strangers when needed. In another incident, two women were approached by a 19-year-old who wanted to stay with them after an uncomfortable encounter outside a pub. An older man had approached her and tried to persuade her to leave with him, making a disturbing remark about her age. She refused and walked away before seeking help. The women welcomed her, with one telling her, "Absolutely, you can be with us." They stayed beside her and arranged an Uber so she could get home safely.
For more interesting stories, follow @_mamadionne on her Instagram account.