Feeling So Sick I Couldn’t Walk When a Man Virtually Carried Me to a Bathroom.

During my my late teens, my morning travel involved an packed public transport. It remained jammed and invariably became standing room only by the time I stepped aboard.

One particular morning, I began feeling incredibly sick when the coach swayed around every turn. I kept telling myself to persevere another few kilometres before the bus reached my destination, at which point I could make a mad dash toward the most convenient public toilet to be sick.

As we neared the street towards my stop and I understood I was unable to hold on. Suddenly, it seemed a fog descended upon me. Everything just went blank and silent; as if someone cut the sound. I thought, “I will lose consciousness”.

Fortunately, I stood near the front on the bus, so I took a few steps forward and told the operator to stop, informing him I needed to be sick. He promptly opened the doors and I hurriedly stepped on to the pavement.

I was determined to not get sick in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I picked myself up and started trying to walk toward the green space opposite the street, where I thought it would allow me to find some privacy behind a bush to throw up. Yet I must have blacked out. I was aware of my limbs, but I couldn’t walk and my vision was blurry, so I started inching my way to my intended destination.

“Everything alright, love?”

Right then, I got scooped up. I felt an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I told this unknown man that I needed to be sick. Thus, he practically supported my weight down into an adjacent building and guided me inside the women’s restroom. He inquired if I wanted him to wait for me but I declined.

A few minutes later, I had recovered sufficiently to sit on the toilet and from the other side of the door came him inquire, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I wasn’t able to stand up at that moment but I was able to say thank you and shortly thereafter regained the function of my limbs. I made my way home and spent several days getting over what turned out to be a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never saw his features – merely his legs and a large metal toolbox he was carrying – but he saved me, at a moment I was in my weakest state.

Often this world can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that melts away that protective shell. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, a trait I cherish about my fellow humans.