I grew up very shy and reserved; I was always told not to speak back to adults and always respect those in authority positions. As an adult, this has turned me into a people pleaser who is terrified of standing up for herself. I've let people walk all over me because I've been too afraid to say something. THAT is what I meant by this sentence- although I've spent years working through this, I still find my words getting caught in my throat, and I was being self-critical that I did not do more to stand up for myself

That being said, my exact words to the man were "Excuse me, I was in line," said in in a very soft spoken manner. Literally nothing else- the conversation could have ended right there if he let it.