Is AUTHOR wrong in the post ? POST : A week back, I was walking home from school, where an old man was stood, shaking and struggling to carry his things. I offered to take his bags and help him walk wherever he needed. It turned out he was on his way to the hearing clinic, a 2 minute walk away for someone my age and health. The trip ended up taking an hour, and we sat down every 5 minutes, so he could catch his breath - I didn’t mind, I was happy to help and talk with him about his life. On one of our stops, he begins telling me about how his wife died a few weeks ago, his house was broken into and the police took his license. I greeted this conversation with sympathy and let him pour out his feelings. 

On one of our last little stops before the clinic, he asks my age, and I told him I was 18, he looked shocked and I told him I don’t look 18 because I don’t dress it (I look very young and wear no makeup, coupled with track pants and men’s shirts) he then laughed and said “how do you look when you’re undressed?” i brushed his comment off with a laugh and explained to him what I meant. This was the first red flag, I’ll mention we are on the main street of my city and there are MANY people around. He was also making very blatant racist comments and telling me how beautiful my fair skin is. 

About a minute later, he starts forcefully rubbing above the crotch area of my pants, I move away from him but he continues, I took his hand off of me and told him it wasn’t okay, with a laugh, out of nervousness and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings after what he’s been through, although he responded with “why isn’t it okay?”.

After this I uncomfortably walked him the full way to the clinic and then left, I called my friend straight after and cried on the phone to him in public, not because of what had happened to me, but because this man had such a hard life, and that I don’t know who else would have helped him if not for me. I felt too ashamed and embarrassed to say he had touched me, and i don’t know if it’s my place to say anything. 

My friend says to report it to the police, but the man has been so much recently, I don’t know if he was just grooming me, though. This man also gave me his address and told me to visit him. He was well aware I am still a student.  Will I be the asshole if I make a police report?  Am I the asshole for feeling like a victim? 