It can happen to anyone even you

Hello peeps, I need to get something off my chest and I don't want to keep being people irl. But I think I need to get it out and that if I help one woman then it was the right thing to do.

On Friday night I went out for a drink and a dance. About 3am we headed to the loo, Mr and my bestie. Out of nowhere a man grab me round the neck in a headlock, from behind and tried to force me into the mens.

I fought him, bestie hit him, I slipped through headlock and ran into the ladies, a bunch of blokes heard the commotion and bundled him out.

And what did I do?

I went to the loo, washed my hands laughed with bestie about how random it was.... And carried on without night.

It was only walking home and over the weekend that it kept popping back up, that was a bit rapey was the continuous thought. Anyway this morning I've gone to work and chatted with my colleagues and told them what happened, super casually, just part of the night. They were shocked, shocked at what happened, shocked I stayed, shocked I hadn't reported it. But I'm fine I said, I got away I said, maybe he was just over zealous. But I did go and report it, to the pub manager this morning. I expected to not be taken seriously, to be blamed, to be questioned on what I drank and what I wore. I wasn't. He took me seriously wrote everything down told me that they had a worse incident sat night and are actively pursuing these incidents. I feel relieved and vindicated. I am 42 and stupidly thought I was too old and long in the tooth to be dealing with things like this on a night out. Thank god bestie was there, thank god we never ever leave eachothers side when we are out. Look after eachother look after yourselves and don't be me. Don't minimise your experience. Trust your gut.

The self doubt I felt over the last few days has been immense, was it me? Did I flirt? Were my shorts too short? I consider myself a strong independent woman, but the self doubt was immense and I am so lucky to be surrounded by good people. Thank you letting me get that out