Nearly having a stalker was something I never imagined could happen to me. He was 18; I was 16. We met while working at a grocery store, and even after I left, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was lurking around every corner. To this day, the fear lingers—what if he appears when I’m alone?

In the United States, 1 in 3 women experience stalking at some point in their lives. This true story by Dakota Chase sheds light on one of the millions of similar experiences, offering a deeply personal perspective on the impact of stalking. Through her story, Dakota hopes to raise awareness about the often-overlooked reality of stalking and push for stronger laws to hold offenders accountable.