During my winter break from college, I took up Uber Eats to make some extra money. One snowy night, a few weeks before Christmas, I found myself delivering orders in my dad's pickup truck. The heavy snowfall seemed to keep other drivers off the road, leading to a string of lucrative orders.
After three hours of delivering, I received an order from a drive-through place with an enticing tip. The destination was a house in a seemingly nice neighborhood on the other side of the county. Despite the late hour and accumulating snow on the roads, I decided to take one last delivery before calling it a night.
Upon reaching the neighborhood, I noticed the houses were massive, each with significant space between them. They all shared a classic older mansion style. Following the map, I eventually arrived at the address, where a foot of snow covered the driveway. I parked on the road, trudging through the snow to the front door.
To my surprise, the house was in complete darkness, and a notice from the county was taped to the front door. As I inspected the notice, footsteps crunched in the snow behind me. Turning around, I encountered a man with a buzz cut and a worn jacket, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
Assuming he was the recipient, I offered him the order. However, something felt off. The man, with cold and tired eyes, didn't react as expected. When I attempted to step past him, he suddenly turned and made a strange grabbing motion. Alarmed, I stumbled back, and the man began to chase me, insisting that I come with him.
Panicking, I managed to outrun him in the thick snow and retreated to my car. Driving away, I looked back and saw him standing in the driveway, watching. I immediately called the police, but by the time they arrived, the man had vanished.
Later that night, they informed me that the house wasn't currently owned by anyone. The unsettling encounter left me on edge, especially when delivering to dark houses, wondering if the mysterious man might reappear.
In the days that followed, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. I became hyper-aware of my surroundings during deliveries, constantly scanning for any signs of danger. The incident had shattered my sense of security and made me question the risks of my side job.
To regain a sense of control and protect myself, I took several precautions. I communicated my whereabouts with friends and family while on deliveries, sharing my location and estimated arrival times. I also invested in self-defense classes to equip myself with the skills necessary to defend against potential threats.
The incident also prompted me to have a conversation with my parents about personal safety and the risks associated with gig economy jobs. They encouraged me to prioritize my well-being and consider alternative ways of making money that didn't involve putting myself in potentially dangerous situations.
As time passed, the memory of that snowy night started to fade, but its impact on my perspective remained. I became more cautious and discerning in my choices, valuing my safety above all else. I also shared my story with fellow delivery drivers and encouraged them to prioritize their personal safety while on the job.
Looking back, that encounter served as a stark reminder that not all situations are as they seem, and it's important to trust your instincts and prioritize personal safety. It taught me to be vigilant, take necessary precautions, and listen to my gut feelings when something doesn't feel right.
While the mystery of the house and the intentions of the man in the worn jacket were never fully explained, the experience served as a valuable lesson. It reminded me to stay alert and cautious, even in seemingly ordinary situations, and to always prioritize my safety and well-being above anything else.