Everyone knows that walking home at night presents a certain set of new circumstances for a pedestrian. As the sun goes down and the darkness falls things can quickly change. It’s important to remain aware of your surroundings at all times to ensure you traverse your route in safety. This is even more so true in a big city.

Unfortunately, women travelers are often targeted. Often, women will travel with pepper spray or whistles to aid in their defense. But sometimes this just isn’t enough.

Such is the case for a woman traveling home at night in New York City.

She was simply trying to make it back home to her son when she noticed that she was being followed by three strangers. Instinctively she knew she was being stalked and made a bold move to protect herself in the night.

The woman in need approached a black man walking near the train station. His name was Dane Weeks.

She hurriedly flung her arms around the complete stranger and whispered in his ear, pleading him to act as if he knew her. She explained she was being followed.

Weeks posted about the entire event in an upload to his Twitter account.

“I’m walking to the train a few minutes ago and a woman walked right up to me and gave me a tight hug and whispered quickly, “please act like you know me 3 guys are following me for a while” I played along then walked her 3 blocks home. What an experience for the both of us.“

Although Weeks hesitated slightly, he rose up to meet the task at hand and walked her the rest of the way home.

While being a good citizen sometimes means helping someone carry in the groceries, other times it means walking a complete stranger home in the dark.

“I’m not going to act like I didn’t hesitate because we’re in New York, people set you up real quick. Her hug was too real to be fake, and three men was following behind at a distance. As walked and talk i realized she was terrified, she kept saying i have to get home to her son.”

The woman was grateful for his quick action and willingness in the given situation.

“I was walking looking at the debate, at the glance I saw her reaching her hands up, and before I can react she hugged me. After the hug she held my hand as we walked to her building. She apologized for the inconvenience, and I had to tell her it was my pleasure no inconvenience.”

Weeks was sympathetic to her plight as a woman traveling home in the dark. Although he never had to personally deal with a situation like that, he could understand how terrified she truly was.

And then he extended an exceptionally kind offer to her.

“We exchanged numbers, I told her my boyfriend & I would meet her at the train anytime if we’re home. The route she have to take home she has to walk under the train tracks, no other way, plus its dark. She said she would call again, I hope she do. I will call tomorrow to check in.”

Since the story was posted on Twitter it has received 64.2k retweets and over 377k likes. Weeks’ story of ultimate kindness and everyday heroism has touched the lives of many.

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Sources: Spotlight, Bored Panda