I am a single woman who lives alone. I thought about having a roommate for a while, but figured we would get on each other's nerves after about a week or so.  I like having the run of my apartment without hearing someone blast their radio, or engaged in sexual activity at 2am. I figured that by living alone, I have no one to annoy but myself (I can be a "bear" to live with, admittedly).

I've never given much thought about living alone, because I've never considered myself to be a "jumpy" person. I'm a horror movie buff, and I have been known to watch the most shocking, horrific movies in complete darkness, and sleep soundly just moments after. Not much frightens me.....Until I came across the sex offender registry.

A woman whom I work with was curious and wanted to know what kind of heathens lived in our area. She also lives on the eastside just a few blocks from me, so her neighbors are mine. I decided right then and there, that I was also curious. We were stunned to see how many men (and a few women) popped up. I was especially horrified to discover that one of them lived in my building!

He was convicted of second degree sexual assualt back in early 2000. I didn't recognize the name right off, so I made a mental note of it and searched the mailboxes for his name when I got home. There he was! His apartment was right by the front door. I pass it every morning when I leave for work and every evening when I come home. I use to walk by his door carefree, now my whole body stiffens.

He had his door open one afternoon and heard me talking to my building manager in the hall about fixing some plumbing in my apartment. I guess the sound of the female voice was enough to drive him out of his apartment to investigate. He stood there watching us, saying hello to my manager and giving me the "once over". Now women are very familiar to this look. We get it while walking down the street, jogging, grocery shopping etc. We shrug it off as men being men, but when you know that the man giving you that look gave it to some poor woman just before violating her in the most disgusting way imagined, it makes you sick to your stomach.

I quickly ended my conversation with the building manager, bolted upstairs to my apartment and locked myself inside. A few weeks later I was coming home from the grocery store and just barely made it into my building before having to drop my bags from sheer exhaustion. He must of heard the rumble, and came out to ask if I needed help carrying my bags to my apartment. I froze!

The thought of me opening my front door, being pushed inside, and crying out for help was terrifying. I told him "no thanks, I'm good", mustered up the last ounce of energy I had and hopped on the elevator.

I thought for a second that maybe I was being a bit dramatic, but then again had every reason to be. Had I not looked on the website, I'm sure I would have thought he was just some nice guy who lived in my building. That feeling of being invincible has vanished and now I find myself double even triple checking to see if my doors are locked before I go to bed. Every creak is enough to make me pull the covers over my head, as my heart pounds.

I'm glad I found out, but I feel like I've paid a price for that information.

I do have a question for you the reader.....do you feel that you should be notified of a sex offender living on site by the building manager when you apply for the apartment? Or do you feel these men have paid their debt to society and deserve some privacy like everyone else?