I found the driver, Grab didn't.

This is still a heavy memory for me. It happened years ago, but it still lives rent-free in my head.

The reason I’m even writing this is because recently, I had to book a Grab again. I had no choice, I needed to get somewhere fast. And the moment I got in the car, everything came back. That night. That ride. That fear.

It was way back in 2018. I went out with friends, had a few drinks, and left the bar around 2 AM. I booked a Grab ride home like I always did. The driver arrived, I got in, and I remember taking a quick nap. I’d been using Grab for years, even in college, and never had any issues.

But that nap turned out to be the nightmare I’d carry with me for years.

I woke up at home… but something felt wrong. I looked at the time, it was already 4:45 AM. I checked the app. The trip had been "canceled".

That’s when panic hit. My phone was gone. My cash, gone. I’d been drunk, sure... but wasn’t the whole point of ride-hailing apps to get home "safely"?

I reported it to Grab right away. I even asked, "What if I hadn’t made it home? What if I’d been assaulted or just disappeared that night?"

Their response? “The driver didn’t show up at the office and is currently out of coverage.”

That was it.

No updates. No accountability. No one followed up. I guess I was just some 20-something they didn’t think needed to be taken seriously. I wish I had pushed harder. I wish I had known how.

Then in 2021, in the middle of the pandemic, I saw a familiar name pop up on my feed. Someone was offering rides and deliveries. Something about the name made me stop. I clicked the profile, and my chest dropped.

It was the grab driver years ago.

Same face. Same name. Same middle name.

I froze. I still freeze every time I remember it.

I never got justice. I never got closure. But sharing this, even anonymously, feels like taking one step out from under that weight.

So… thanks for reading. And please, stay safe out there. Always.