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

During my 19 years old, my regular journey to work meant taking an express bus. The vehicle was always full and would always be standing room only once I boarded.

During a certain commute, I started experiencing incredibly sick as the bus swayed around every turn. I repeatedly told myself to hold on another few kilometres so the bus could reached my destination, at which point I could rush hurriedly for the nearest public restroom to be sick.

As we neared the street towards the destination as it dawned on me I would not be to last. All of a sudden, it was like a veil came over me. The world became white and really quiet; like someone had muted everything. My mind raced, “I’m going to faint”.

Fortunately, I stood near the front of the bus, allowing me to take a few steps toward the driver and asked the driver to stop, telling him that I was about to vomit. He promptly opened the bus doors and I hurriedly stepped on to the pavement.

I was determined not to vomit in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I forced myself up and started trying to stumble toward the green space across the road, where I thought it would allow me to secretly conceal myself near some foliage to vomit. Yet I apparently blacked out. I could feel my physical self, yet I couldn’t walk or see clearly, so I started crawling towards the grassy area.

“You right, love?”

At that moment, I got scooped up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a man’s voice asked, “Are you okay, dear?” I told this mysterious stranger that I required to get to a bathroom. Therefore, he almost supported my weight into a close-by structure and put me inside the women’s restroom. He asked me if I wanted him to wait for me but I refused.

After a short while, I regained my composure sufficiently to sit down and from the other side of the door I heard his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to get up just then but I did succeed to say thank you and after a few more minutes recovered the use of my limbs. I made my way home and spent the next few days getting over what turned out to be a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never saw the stranger’s face – merely his legs and the big steelwork tools container he held – yet he rescued me, at a moment I was completely helpless.

Many times, life has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that undoes that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, something I love about humanity.