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

During my my late teens, my daily commute meant taking an packed public transport. The vehicle was always crowded and was consistently without any seats by the time I boarded.

One particular morning, I began feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle swayed around each corner. I kept telling myself to endure another few kilometres until the bus arrived at my destination, at which point I could sprint quickly to the closest public toilet to vomit.

The bus was approaching the street towards the destination as I understood I would not be to last. In an instant, it seemed a curtain fell over me. My vision turned blank and silent; like someone had muted everything. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.

Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver inside the vehicle, allowing me to take a couple of steps toward the driver and told the operator to stop, telling him I needed to vomit. He opened the entrance and I stumbled out on to the pavement.

I was resolved to avoid being sick before multiple lanes of cars, so I gathered myself and endeavored to walk toward the green space opposite the street, thinking I could it would allow me to find some privacy among some shrubs to vomit. Yet I apparently lost consciousness. I sensed my physical self, yet I was unable to walk or see clearly, so I started crawling towards my intended destination.

“Are you okay, dear?”

In that instant, I was lifted up. I felt someone holding me and a man’s voice asked, “Everything alright, love?” I told this unknown man that I had to to be sick. Therefore, he almost supported my weight down into a close-by structure and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He wanted to know whether I required him to wait for me but I declined.

Not long after, I had recovered to the point of sitting on the restroom floor when from beyond the stall I heard him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Is there anything you require?” I was incapable to stand up just then but I was able to express my gratitude and following a brief period recovered the use of my legs. I returned home and then spent several days healing from which was a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I did not see the stranger’s face – just his lower half and a large metal toolbox he held – but he saved me, when I was in my weakest state.

Often this world tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that undoes that protective shell. He was proof that people’s natural inclination is to be kind, something I love about my fellow humans.