Amy stumbled back to the hotel, shaken by her experience. She could still feel those hsnds crawling over her skin and felt abused. At the same time, she knew how much worse it could have been, how powerless she would have been to stop them. Her mind raced, trying to understand what had happened. She knew that she had done nothing to provoke their action, but equally what had caused them to molest her? What motivated them to do such a thing? Was it simply because they could, because alone she was vulnerable. Thinking it through, she realised that she had exposed herself to danger, being in a foreign place, dark and unfamiliar. Not a risk she would have taken back home. Yet it was not her fault and she must stop thinking this way, thinking that she was in someway to blame for the action of those men.
When Amy walked into the hotel, feeling disheveled and still distraught, the first thing she saw was members of the flight crew sitting near the bar. She realised that it was still quite early, but she had no wish to join them. However, she had been spotted, and Carol, the lead flight attendant, waved and beckoned her over. Reluctantly, Amy approached not wishing to appear rude or unfriendly. Immediately they pulled up and offered a drink. Glancing around, Amy was pleased to see that John was not with them.
She sat for awhile chatting with the other flight attendants. It was not long before the captain announced that he was heading to bed, which meant that there were just four girls left behind. Amy was glad about her decision to join them, rather than just sitting alone in her room and stewing over the events of the evening. However, inside she felt a mix of anger at the way she had been treated and frustration with her own naivety. So when John arrived with a beaming smile and a loud "Helloo there ladies!" she felt herself tense. Sure enough, he grabbed a chair and slid in beside her with a muttered "Don't mind me" and then a slightly louder "Anyone up for a drink?"
Before long - and not to her great surprise - Amy felt John's leg pressing lightly against hers. She shifted slightly to create a small gap and send the message that his contact was not welcome. However, moments later the leg had followed her. Even worse, he then decided to put his hand on her knee. Okay Amy just thought this is enough. Standing up she turned to face John directly.
"You know John, I'm sure you are really nice guy and I hope we can be friends, but I have done nothing to suggest any other relationship and I really don't appreciate unwanted attention. Tonight, I was so excited to visit Dubrovnik. I had a lovely peaceful dinner and then simply went to admire the outlook over the sea. For a moment I forgot that I am a girl and that girls are just prey to predators. Three of them decided it would be fun to trap me, grope me - yes, even inside my clothes. And you know the really stupid thing, John? I emerged from that feeling somehow lucky that they had not done more. How crazy is that? I've been left feeling grubby, humiliated and blaming myself forgetting into that situation. Yet it's wrong that I feel this way. It's wrong that I cannot go out alone in a busy city and not be molested. So, if we are to work together, I just need you to respect me and not crowd my space. We are work colleagues and I hope we can be friends. I need your respect."
