I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.
During my 19 years old, my morning travel involved an crowded coach. The vehicle was always full and would always be without any seats once I got on.
On one specific day, I was feeling quite nauseous when the coach rocked around every turn. I kept telling myself to endure another few kilometres before the bus reached my stop, at which point I could rush hurriedly toward the most convenient public restroom to vomit.
As we neared the avenue close to the stop when I realised I was unable to make it. Suddenly, it seemed a veil came over me. The world became blank and silent; similar to when one turned off the audio. I thought, “I’m going to faint”.
Thankfully, I was positioned toward the front of the bus, allowing me to take a few steps forward and told the operator to open the doors, explaining to him that I was about to vomit. He opened the entrance and I weakly exited out onto the street.
I was resolved to not get sick in view of multiple lanes of cars, so I forced myself up and endeavored to make my way toward the green space opposite the street, where I thought I could at least find some privacy among some shrubs to be sick. But then I apparently lost consciousness. I sensed my physical self, yet I couldn’t walk or see properly, so I began dragging myself toward the park.
“Are you okay, dear?”
In that instant, someone picked me up. There was an arm around my waist and a man’s voice asked, “Everything alright, love?” I managed to tell the kind passerby that I required to be sick. So he virtually supported my weight into a nearby building and guided me inside the women’s restroom. He asked me whether I required him to stay with me but I declined.
Not long after, I had recovered to the point of sitting down and from the other side of the door came him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Is there anything you require?” I could not to get up at that moment but did manage to thank him and following a brief period recovered the use of my feet. I returned home and spent the next few days getting over what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.
I did not see his features – just his lower half and a large steelwork tools container he had with him – but he saved me, when I was completely helpless.
Frequently, society tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that undoes that protective shell. He was proof that our default setting is to be kind, something I love about my fellow humans.
