I have a friend and he has been my classmate since kindergarten. A couple of years ago, we were drinking with my bffs and we were talking about his dating adventures. He said he loved preying on single moms because they are “game” as they’re thirsty and he gets someone to mother him as a bonus.

*I wasn’t yet a single parent then but I knew at the back of my mind that I was heading in that direction.*

I told him he is still a friend but I wanted to punch him because he is an asshole. He laughed and thought it was just the alcohol talking.

I repeated my comment. You are an asshole, I said.

This memory suddenly sprung up after reading something on social media about single moms. There’s this one “digital creator” who did nothing but take selfies with duck lips and in various provocative poses. Then there were comments about attracting new bfs, being a thirst trap, and whatnot. This then triggered that memory about what my friend said about solo moms being “thirsty” and “game” and are clear targets for predators.

It’s really triggering because I may have been a victim of a predator who took advantage of my vulnerability. God knows he may be targeting solo moms now, too, just like my friend. If he is, then ewww, such a low-life.

It was so triggering that I had dreamed about it today. I was so relieved after waking up and realizing that I’m not in that situation now.

You think these people are fictional, found only in the movies or books. But no, they’re very real.