What I Wish I’d Known Sooner

Alex (London)

i never really thought about crime in huge depth, and I never watch the news or keep up with current affairs. Then one night, one of my closest friends got spiked. It wasn’t dramatic. That’s the bit that still messes with my head. No obvious moment where everything went wrong, just a drink, a laugh, and then suddenly she wasn’t herself anymore. Disoriented. Scared. Gone within minutes. I was surprised how quickly all seemed to go wrong. What I wish I’d known sooner is how quickly a normal night can change, and how important it is to look out for each other before something goes wrong. Not after. Not once it’s already happened.

Now I check in more. I share locations. I walk people home. I don’t brush off “I’ll text you when I’m back” anymore, I wait for the text. If I’m being honest, I probably wouldn’t have downloaded a safety app a year ago. Not because I didn’t care , but because I thought I didn’t need it. I live in London. I’m used to it. Late trains, night buses, walking home with headphones in. It all felt normal. I never really questioned it. But after what happened to my friend, everything shifted. I started noticing things I’d ignored before, dark streets, empty platforms, the feeling of walking a bit faster without knowing why. What surprised me most wasn’t fear, it was how reassuring it felt to know someone could see where I was. Or that I could let people know I’d got home without overthinking it. Safety doesn’t have to mean panic. For me, it’s just… awareness. I still live my life. I still go out. I still do everything I did before, I just don’t pretend nothing can happen anymore.

And honestly? That small mindset change has made a bigger difference than I expected.