In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.

Back when I was nineteenth year, my daily commute meant taking an crowded coach. The vehicle was always crowded and was consistently completely full when I stepped aboard.

On one specific day, I started experiencing quite nauseous as the bus rocked around the bends. I repeatedly told myself to hold on for a few more stops before the bus arrived at where I needed to get off, at which point I could rush hurriedly for the nearest public toilet to throw up.

We were coming down the street towards the destination as I understood I wasn’t going to make it. In an instant, it was like a veil came over me. My vision turned white and really quiet; similar to when one cut the sound. I said to myself, “I will lose consciousness”.

Luckily I was near the front on the bus, so I managed a couple of steps to ask the driver and told the operator to open the doors, explaining to him I needed to get ill. He promptly opened the doors and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.

I was determined to avoid being sick in front of six lanes of traffic, so I picked myself up and endeavored to walk across to the park across the road, where I believed it would allow me to find some privacy behind a bush to be sick. However I must have blacked out. I sensed my limbs, but I was unable to walk or see clearly, so I began dragging myself toward my intended destination.

“Are you okay, dear?”

Right then, I was lifted up. I sensed someone holding me and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I managed to tell the unknown man that I had to to vomit. Thus, he practically carried me into an adjacent building and put me inside the women’s restroom. He inquired whether I required him to remain with me but I said no.

A few minutes later, I had recovered enough to sit on the toilet when from beyond the door came him ask, “Do you need anything, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to rise at that moment but did manage to thank him and after a few more minutes was able to move my legs. I got myself home and spent several days healing from what turned out to be a nasty tummy bug.

I never saw the stranger’s face – merely his legs along with a sizable container for tools he had with him – but he saved me, at a moment I was completely helpless.

Many times, life has a way of making you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His act was the type of kindness that undoes that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, a trait I cherish about my fellow humans.