Yesterday I was stopped at a traffic light minding my own business, pretty much anyway. My attention was caught temporarily by a car that was approaching fairly quickly behind me and I looked up into the rear-view mirror for a moment, just to be sure it stopped. It did.
I noticed that one of the occupants, in the passenger seat, was a young woman who was talking rather animatedly and motioning with her hands. Just then she seemed to flinch and pull herself to the right into the wall of the door near the seat belt, and the young man who was driving made a series of very fast, boxing like moves toward her. He did not hit her — perhaps it was not meant to be serious, but still, she did flinch. After a moment she returned to a normal upright position (it is a long light on occasion) and resumed talking. Then he punched her in the back or top of the head, this time driving her into the door of the car. I was completely surprised and rather appalled. I think I was shocked.
At the moment the light changed and I turned right to head into the local shopping mall.
The couple followed me. I was aware of this because they turned at the same entrance to the parking lot I did and parked in the same row. I was aware of them because the driver followed very closely, and I was still somewhat disconcerted. I don't really think he was intentionally following me. I don't think he knew I even saw him hit the girl. People often think that they are invisible in their cars.
We took longer to get out of our car, DH is much slower than he used to be and needs his cane to get up and down, and the couple walked past us. They looked quite young to me. The girl had her arm around the young man's waist and he had his arm around her shoulders… affectionately? . . . protectively?. . . . . possessively?
At first I wondered if I should have gotten the license plate number. The car was really too close to me to read it, and frankly I don't even think I noticed the car specifically. Even if I had, what would I report? Is it really my business even if I think it should be? Are they young enough that the girl's parent's should know?
I am still thinking about it today.