Where I'm almost stalked by a stranger

Secure parking
London, ON
January 2019
This photo originally shared on Instagram

So the other night I'm walking through the icy, dark streets of downtown London after getting off the train from Toronto. My car is parked by the office, a few blocks away from the Via station, and as I often do, I'm stopping here and there whenever something grabs my eye. It's been a long day amid countless long days, and a little photographic inspiration in the gloom of a wintry night seems to help my spirit.

After my second little photographic pause, I hear something behind me. I turn back to see a man walking in the shadows, maybe 100 metres behind me. At first, instinct tells me to be suspicious, as this is a somewhat dodgy stretch. But something else in my gut tells me he isn't a threat. I look back again, and realize he's stopping at all the places I've stopped, and is taking photos, just like I am, with his smartphone.

I smile at the thought of a complete stranger following my lead simply because he happened to be walking behind me on a lonely stretch of York Street. I'm still smiling as I grab this muted image of the parking entrance to a rather huge apartment complex just across the street from work. It isn't much of a photo, but I think to myself this is going to be another one of those shots where the moment matters more than the pixels. I just as quickly put the camera away and continue across Ridout Street before getting to my car in the office lot.

As I get to my vehicle, I look back again and my new silent photographic friend is shuffling along the icy sidewalk, heavy soft briefcase in one hand, his other arm swinging opposite it as he barely maintains his balance. I stop myself from reaching out to him, because some connections are best left silent. The fact that I've inspired someone by simply taking a picture is enough for one night.

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