Appreciate male stranger who made me comfortable. via /r/gratitude

I went to an ATM to deposit cash with a small child. Typically I always do this inside a bank, but that particular day I was running late and came after closing time. I pull into the small lot and there is literally nobody there, no other cars at all. It is still daylight. Relieved, I proceed to put my card and cash into the ATM and just then an older car pulls in with chipped paint and appears in disrepair. There is a man inside maybe 50-60 years old. Because of my past experiences in life, anxiety immediately grips me, but the machine is already counting my cash (taking forever because it was a bunch of small bills) and I'm stuck there. I pull out my phone and call my husband on speaker phone as an extra layer of safety, but I have a small child with me and we are alone in this parking lot. I watch the car in the little rearview mirror at the ATM the entire time, and make sure I get a good look at the license plate and car. Thankfully he just sits in the car, but the ATM is taking forever. Then he gets out of the car, and my anxiety skyrockets. Again, because of my bad past experiences with creepy and assaultive behavior from multiple men I am panicking that I am alone in a parking lot with a stranger in a vulnerable situation with a young child and cash. For safety, I keep turning around so he knows I see him and his car and he can't sneak up on me. He gets out of the car, and just leans on his car and stands there in a non-threatening manner, looking into the distance. He stood there, a good distance away from me and waited until the slow ATM finished my transaction (after returning bent bills and making me re-insert them). He didn't start approaching the ATM until I was safely inside my car.

After this, I felt so much appreciation and respect for him for giving me that space and helping me feel more safe in this situation. He probably saw how anxious my body language was. I could not thank him in person, but I wanted to anonymously share my gratitude here at least. Now that my face is older and stopped attracting creeps, I see many examples of mature men behaving in safe ways that put women at ease and I appreciate those respectful men for it.