I Was So Ill I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.

During my nineteenth year, my daily commute was on an packed public transport. It remained jammed and would always be completely full once I boarded.

One particular morning, I began feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle lurched around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to hold on for a few more stops so the bus could arrived at where I needed to get off, at which point I could sprint quickly for the nearest public restroom to be sick.

As we neared the avenue close to the destination as it dawned on me I wasn’t going to hold on. Suddenly, it felt as if a veil came over me. Everything just went blank and silent; like someone had cut the sound. My mind raced, “I will lose consciousness”.

Luckily I was toward the front inside the vehicle, so I took a couple of steps toward the driver and asked the driver to pull over, explaining to him I needed to vomit. He promptly opened the entrance and I stumbled out out onto the street.

I was determined to avoid being sick before multiple lanes of cars, so I gathered myself and started trying to make my way toward the green space opposite the street, where I believed I’d at least be able to discreetly hide near some foliage to vomit. But then I must have blacked out. I sensed my physical self, yet I couldn’t walk and my vision was blurry, leading me to start dragging myself toward the grassy area.

“Are you okay, dear?”

Right then, I was lifted up. There was an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “Everything alright, love?” I told this kind passerby that I required to vomit. So he virtually supported my weight over to a nearby building and placed me inside the women’s restroom. He asked me if I needed him to wait for me but I declined.

After a short while, I regained my composure sufficiently to sit down and from outside the door I heard him inquire, “Are you OK, love? Is there anything you require?” I wasn’t able to rise just then but I was able to thank him and after a few more minutes was able to move my limbs. I made my way home passing several days getting over what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.

I never glimpsed the stranger’s face – only his legs and the big steelwork tools container he was carrying – but he saved me, at a moment I was at my most vulnerable.

Frequently, society can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that melts away that hardening of the heart. He demonstrated that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, something I love in other people.