Feeling So Sick I Was Unable to Walk As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.

Back when I was my late teens, my regular journey to work was on an packed public transport. The vehicle was always crowded and would always be completely full by the time I boarded.

One particular morning, I started experiencing quite nauseous as the bus lurched around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to hold on just a little longer so the bus could reached where I needed to get off, so I could then make a mad dash for the nearest washroom to vomit.

As we neared the avenue close to the stop when I understood I was unable to last. In an instant, it seemed a fog descended upon me. Everything just went white and really quiet; similar to when one cut the sound. I thought, “I’m going to faint”.

Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver on the bus, allowing me to take a few steps to ask the driver and asked the driver to stop, explaining to him that I was about to get ill. He promptly opened the doors and I hurriedly stepped on to the pavement.

I was resolved to avoid being sick before multiple lanes of cars, so I gathered myself and started trying to make my way to the park opposite the street, where I thought I’d at least be able to secretly conceal myself behind a bush to be sick. But then I must have fainted. I could feel my body but walking was impossible and my vision was blurry, leading me to start inching my way to the grassy area.

“Are you okay, dear?”

At that moment, I got scooped up. I sensed an arm around my waist and heard a man say, “Are you okay, dear?” I managed to tell the kind passerby that I required to be sick. Therefore, he almost carried me into an adjacent building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He asked me whether I required him to stay with me but I said no.

Not long after, I had recovered enough to sit on the restroom floor and from outside the door I heard his voice asking, “Do you need anything, love? Can I get you something?” I was incapable to get up just then but I did succeed to express my gratitude and following a brief period recovered the use of my limbs. I made my way home and then spent the next few days getting over what was later diagnosed as a severe stomach virus.

I never glimpsed his features – just his lower half along with a sizable metal toolbox he held – but he helped me, when I was in my weakest state.

Frequently, society can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that reverses that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency leans toward compassion, a trait I cherish in other people.