In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.

Back when I was nineteenth year, my regular journey to work meant taking an express bus. It remained crowded and invariably became standing room only by the time I got on.

During a certain commute, I started experiencing quite nauseous as the bus lurched around every turn. I kept telling myself to hold on just a little longer so the bus could reached where I needed to get off, at which point I could sprint quickly toward the most convenient public restroom to vomit.

The bus was approaching the road leading to the stop when it dawned on me I wasn’t going to make it. Suddenly, it felt as if a veil came over me. Everything just went blank and silent; like someone had turned off the audio. I thought, “I will lose consciousness”.

Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver inside the vehicle, so I took several steps forward and asked the driver to stop, informing him I needed to be sick. He opened the doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.

I was determined to avoid being sick before a busy multi-lane road, so I gathered myself and began attempting to walk across to the park opposite the street, where I thought I could at least discreetly hide near some foliage to throw up. Yet I must have fainted. I was aware of my limbs, but walking was impossible and my vision was blurry, so I began inching my way to my intended destination.

“Everything alright, love?”

In that instant, I got scooped up. I felt an arm around my waist and heard a man say, “You right, love?” I told this mysterious stranger that I needed to vomit. Therefore, he almost supported my weight over to a close-by structure and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He wanted to know if I needed him to remain with me but I declined.

A few minutes later, I had recovered sufficiently to sit down and from the other side of the stall I heard him ask, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I was incapable to get up at that moment but did manage to say thank you and after a few more minutes recovered the use of my feet. I returned home passing the next few days getting over which was a severe stomach virus.

I never glimpsed the stranger’s face – just his lower half and the big metal toolbox he was carrying – but he saved me, when I was completely helpless.

Many times, life has a way of making you guarded, hostile, and combative. His was the sort of gesture that undoes that protective shell. He demonstrated that our default setting is towards kindness, something I love about my fellow humans.