Hello everyone! I'm Darius's mom, and today I'm going to tell you about a story my son just shared with me - about his first h**kup when he was only 17 years old. As a mother, I was both shocked and worried when I heard this story.
Background of the Incident
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This happened in December 2018, when Darius was just 17 years old and about to turn 18 (only 2 days away). At that time, our family went to New York to see the Aladdin musical for his birthday, which was also a Make-A-Wish trip for a little girl.
One evening, my husband and I decided to go out alone, leaving Darius and my older son at the hotel. I had no idea that Darius would come up with such a crazy idea!
My Son's Bold Decision
Darius told me he thought: "I'm in New York - the city where dreams are made, why not try something new?" So the boy downloaded a h**kup app and started chatting with strangers.
Hearing this, I nearly fainted! A 17-year-old kid who had never taken the subway, knew nothing about New York, dared to do something so dangerous.
The Dangerous Adventure
Darius met a guy in his 20s on the app. The boy lied about being 18 and agreed to meet this person. This man lived in the Bronx - and my son thought the Bronx was just a cute way of saying Brooklyn! He had no idea what the Bronx was.
When I heard this, my heart almost stopped. The Bronx is known as a tough area, and my son - an innocent kid from Wisconsin - went there all alone!
Warning Signs
Darius said that when they met, he immediately noticed something was wrong. This man:
Had frozen snot drops due to the cold weather
Spoke extremely loudly, so much that people on the street had to turn around and look
Continued yelling even on the subway, drawing everyone's attention
But since he was already there, Darius just continued following him.
The Experience in the Bronx
When they arrived in the Bronx, Darius described it as stepping into a completely different world:
Trash everywhere
Men sitting on milk crates playing dice
An environment completely foreign to a suburban kid
Listening to this made me want to cry! My son could have been in danger and I had no idea.
What Happened Next
At the man's apartment, Darius said he felt uncomfortable and wanted to leave immediately. He described himself like Jennifer Aniston in a romantic comedy - looking up at the ceiling and thinking "I need to get out of here right now!"
After it was over, this man even started talking about his personal problems and asked Darius to be his boyfriend! Fortunately, my son declined and found a way back to the hotel.
The Risky Journey Back
What scared me the most was that Darius had to take the subway back to Times Square alone - a 30-35 minute journey for a kid who had never used public transportation in a big city.
Luckily, he made it back to the hotel safely before we returned.
A Mother's Thoughts
As a mother, I felt both angry and worried hearing this story:
Things that worried me:
My son went to an unfamiliar area without anyone knowing
He met a stranger from the internet
If something had happened, we wouldn't know where to look
A 17-year-old with no street smarts doing something so dangerous
Why I'm sharing this story:
I want other parents to know that our children might do things we never expect. Darius has always been considered a good, innocent child, but in reality, kids can have thoughts and actions we know nothing about.
Lessons Learned
Through this story, I want to message young people:
Always let someone know where you're going
Don't meet strangers in unfamiliar places
Research the area you plan to visit thoroughly
Always have a safe plan to get back
And to parents: Have open conversations with your children about these issues. Don't think your child will never do dangerous things.
Darius is now 25 years old and fortunately, he learned his lesson from this experience. But looking back, I still shudder thinking about what could have happened.
Please stay safe and always think carefully before acting!
