In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Virtually Carried Me to the Toilets.

Back when I was 19 years old, my daily commute was on an packed public transport. It remained jammed and was consistently without any seats when I got on.

On one specific day, I started experiencing terribly ill while the vehicle lurched around the bends. I repeatedly told myself to hold on for a few more stops so the bus could got to my stop, so I could then rush hurriedly toward the most convenient public toilet to throw up.

The bus was approaching the avenue close to the destination as I realised I would not be to make it. In an instant, it was like a curtain fell over me. Everything just went hazy and muffled; similar to when one turned off the audio. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.

Fortunately, I stood close to the driver inside the vehicle, so I took a few steps toward the driver and asked the driver to stop, telling him I was going to be sick. The driver opened the entrance and I weakly exited out onto the street.

I was resolved not to vomit in view of six lanes of traffic, so I forced myself up and started trying to stumble across to the park on the other side, thinking I could it would allow me to find some privacy behind a bush to throw up. However I likely fainted. I was aware of my physical self, yet I couldn’t walk or see clearly, so I started crawling towards the park.

“Everything alright, love?”

In that instant, I was lifted up. There was an arm around my waist and heard a man say, “Everything alright, love?” I managed to tell the mysterious stranger that I required to get to a bathroom. So he virtually supported my weight over to a nearby building and placed me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I wanted him to remain with me but I said no.

A few minutes later, I regained my composure to the point of sitting on the toilet when from beyond the door came him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I wasn’t able to get up just then but I did succeed to thank him and after a few more minutes recovered the use of my feet. I returned home and spent several days recovering from which was a nasty tummy bug.

I never saw the stranger’s face – only his legs and a large metal toolbox he had with him – but he helped me, at a moment I was at my most vulnerable.

Often this world has a way of making you guarded, hostile, and combative. What he did was the kind of action that melts away that emotional callousness. He was proof that our default setting is towards kindness, something I love about my fellow humans.