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

Back when I was my late teens, my daily commute involved an express bus. It was perpetually jammed and would always be completely full once I boarded.

During a certain commute, I started experiencing terribly ill as the bus lurched around each corner. I kept telling myself to hold on for a few more stops before the bus reached my stop, and then I could make a mad dash to the closest public toilet to throw up.

The bus was approaching the avenue close to my stop and I realised I would not be to make it. In an instant, it felt as if a curtain fell over me. Everything just went white and really quiet; as if someone turned off the audio. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.

Luckily I was close to the driver of the bus, allowing me to take a couple of steps forward and requested that the driver to pull over, explaining to him I needed to be sick. The driver opened the entrance and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.

I was determined not to vomit in front of six lanes of traffic, so I picked myself up and endeavored to stumble across to the park opposite the street, where I believed it would allow me to find some privacy near some foliage to vomit. But then I likely lost consciousness. I could feel my body but walking was impossible or see clearly, so I began crawling towards the park.

“Everything alright, love?”

At that moment, I got scooped up. I sensed an arm around my waist and a man’s voice asked, “You right, love?” I explained to this unknown man that I required to get to a bathroom. Therefore, he almost carried me into an adjacent building and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I wanted him to wait for me but I refused.

After a short while, I regained my composure enough to sit down and from the other side of the door I heard him inquire, “Do you need anything, love? Is there anything you require?” I wasn’t able to rise at that moment but did manage to express my gratitude and after a few more minutes was able to move my legs. I made my way home and spent several days getting over what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.

I never glimpsed the stranger’s face – only his legs along with a sizable container for tools he was carrying – but he helped me, when I was in my weakest state.

Many times, life can make you guarded, hostile, and combative. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, something I love about humanity.