Feeling So Sick I Was Unable to Walk As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.

At the age of my late teens, my daily commute involved an express bus. It remained jammed and would always be without any seats by the time I got on.

On one specific day, I started experiencing quite nauseous when the coach lurched around every turn. I kept telling myself to endure just a little longer so the bus could reached my destination, so I could then rush hurriedly for the nearest public restroom to vomit.

The bus was approaching the street towards the stop when it dawned on me I was unable to last. All of a sudden, it felt as if a curtain fell over me. Everything just went blank and silent; like someone had muted everything. I said to myself, “I will lose consciousness”.

Fortunately, I stood close to the driver on the bus, so I took several steps to ask the driver and asked the driver to stop, informing him I needed to get ill. The driver opened the bus doors and I stumbled out on to the pavement.

I was determined not to vomit in front of a busy multi-lane road, so I picked myself up and started trying to walk to the park opposite the street, where I believed I’d at least be able to secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to be sick. Yet I must have lost consciousness. I could feel my body but I was unable to walk or see clearly, so I began crawling towards the grassy area.

“Everything alright, love?”

At that moment, I got scooped up. There was an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I managed to tell the kind passerby that I required to get to a bathroom. Therefore, he almost carried me into a close-by structure and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He asked me if I wanted him to wait for me but I refused.

After a short while, I felt better to the point of sitting on the toilet and from the other side of the door I heard him inquire, “Are you OK, love? Is there anything you require?” I could not to get up just then but I did succeed to say thank you and following a brief period regained the function of my feet. I got myself home and spent the following days healing from what was later diagnosed as a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never glimpsed his features – just his lower half along with a sizable container for tools he held – but he saved me, at a moment I was completely helpless.

Many times, life tends to make people guarded, hostile, and combative. 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, something I love about my fellow humans.