In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.
During my my late teens, my daily commute was on an crowded coach. The vehicle was always jammed and invariably became standing room only when I stepped aboard.
One particular morning, I started experiencing terribly ill as the bus swayed around every turn. I kept telling myself to hold on another few kilometres before the bus reached where I needed to get off, so I could then sprint quickly toward the most convenient public toilet to be sick.
As we neared the street towards the destination as I understood I wasn’t going to make it. All of a sudden, it was like a curtain fell over me. My vision turned white and really quiet; similar to when one cut the sound. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.
Fortunately, I stood close to the driver on the bus, so I took a couple of steps to ask the driver and asked the driver to pull over, telling him that I was about to get ill. He promptly opened the entrance and I hurriedly stepped out onto the street.
I was determined not to vomit in front of a busy multi-lane road, so I gathered myself and endeavored to walk toward the green space on the other side, where I thought I’d at least be able to discreetly hide near some foliage to throw up. But then I apparently blacked out. I sensed my body but I was unable to walk or see properly, leading me to start crawling towards my intended destination.
“You right, love?”
Right then, someone picked me up. There was a strong arm supporting me and heard a man say, “Everything alright, love?” I managed to tell the kind passerby that I had to to vomit. Therefore, he almost supported my weight into a close-by structure and placed me inside the women’s restroom. He inquired whether I required him to remain with me but I declined.
A few minutes later, I regained my composure sufficiently to sit down when from beyond the door I heard his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Is there anything you require?” I could not to stand up at that moment but did manage to say thank you and following a brief period regained the function of my feet. I made my way home passing the next few days getting over what was later diagnosed as a nasty tummy bug.
I did not see that man’s face – merely his legs and the big steelwork tools container he had with him – but he saved me, when I was in my weakest state.
Often this world has a way of making you guarded, hostile, and combative. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that emotional callousness. He demonstrated that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, a trait I cherish about humanity.