In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to a Bathroom.

Back when I was 19 years old, my morning travel meant taking an express bus. The vehicle was always full and invariably became without any seats by the time I boarded.

On one specific day, I was feeling terribly ill when the coach lurched around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to hold on for a few more stops so the bus could got to my stop, so I could then make a mad dash for the nearest public toilet to throw up.

We were coming down the street towards the destination as I realised I wasn’t going to make it. Suddenly, it was like a curtain fell over me. The world became white and really quiet; similar to when one muted everything. My mind raced, “I’m going to faint”.

Luckily I was toward the front inside the vehicle, so I took a few steps forward and asked the driver to open the doors, explaining to him I needed to get ill. He promptly opened the bus doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.

I was resolved to avoid being sick before six lanes of traffic, so I forced myself up and started trying to walk across to the park across the road, where I believed I could at least find some privacy among some shrubs to vomit. Yet I likely lost consciousness. I was aware of my body but walking was impossible or see properly, leading me to start crawling towards the grassy area.

“You right, love?”

In that instant, I got scooped up. I felt 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. So he virtually supported my weight over to an adjacent building and guided me into the female bathroom. He wanted to know if I needed him to stay with me but I said no.

A few minutes later, I felt better to the point of sitting on the restroom floor and from outside the door came his voice asking, “Do you need anything, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to stand up just then but did manage to thank him and after a few more minutes was able to move my feet. I returned home and spent several days getting over what was later diagnosed as a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never glimpsed his features – only his legs along with a sizable metal toolbox he was carrying – yet he rescued me, during a time when I was completely helpless.

Frequently, society can make you guarded, hostile, and combative. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that protective shell. He was proof that people’s natural inclination leans toward compassion, a trait I cherish about humanity.