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

Back when I was 19 years old, my daily commute involved an crowded coach. It remained jammed and would always be standing room only once I got on.

During a certain commute, I was feeling quite nauseous when the coach lurched around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to persevere another few kilometres so the bus could arrived at where I needed to get off, so I could then sprint quickly to the closest public restroom to be sick.

We were coming down the street towards the destination as I understood I wasn’t going to hold on. In an instant, it felt as if a fog descended upon me. Everything just went blank and silent; similar to when one cut the sound. I thought, “I am about to pass out”.

Thankfully, I was positioned near the front on the bus, allowing me to take a couple of steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to open the doors, explaining to him I needed to be sick. The driver opened the bus doors and I hurriedly stepped out onto the street.

My intention was to not get sick in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I forced myself up and began attempting to make my way across to the park opposite the street, thinking I could I’d at least be able to find some privacy near some foliage to be sick. But then I apparently lost consciousness. I could feel my body but I was unable to walk or see properly, so I began inching my way to the park.

“Are you okay, dear?”

In that instant, I got scooped up. I sensed a strong arm supporting me and a stranger inquired, “You right, love?” I told this unknown man that I had to to vomit. So he virtually carried me over to an adjacent building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired whether I required him to stay with me but I declined.

Not long after, I felt better sufficiently to sit down when from beyond the door came him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Is there anything you require?” I wasn’t able to rise at that moment but I did succeed to say thank you and after a few more minutes regained the function of my legs. I returned home passing several days getting over which was a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never saw that man’s face – only his legs and the big container for tools he was carrying – but he saved me, during a time when I was at my most vulnerable.

Often this world can make you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. What he did was the kind of action that undoes that hardening of the heart. He demonstrated that people’s natural inclination is to be kind, something I love about my fellow humans.