In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Essentially Lifted Me to a Bathroom.

Back when I was 19 years old, my regular journey to work meant taking an crowded coach. The vehicle was always crowded and would always be standing room only by the time I stepped aboard.

On one specific day, I was feeling quite nauseous while the vehicle swayed around each corner. I kept telling myself to hold on for a few more stops until the bus got to my stop, so I could then sprint quickly toward the most convenient washroom to be sick.

The bus was approaching the road leading to my stop and I realised I was unable to make it. All of a sudden, it seemed a veil came over me. My vision turned white and really quiet; as if someone muted everything. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.

Luckily I was close to the driver inside the vehicle, so I managed a couple of steps to ask the driver and told the operator to pull over, explaining to him that I was about to get ill. The driver opened the doors and I stumbled out out onto the street.

My intention was to not get sick in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I forced myself up and began attempting to make my way across to the park opposite the street, where I believed I’d at least be able to secretly conceal myself behind a bush to be sick. However I must have fainted. I was aware of my body but I couldn’t walk or see clearly, so I started crawling towards the park.

“You right, love?”

In that instant, I got scooped up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a man’s voice asked, “You right, love?” I explained to this unknown man that I had to to be sick. So he virtually helped me walk down 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.

A few minutes later, I felt better enough to sit on the restroom floor when from beyond the door I heard him ask, “Do you need anything, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to rise right away but I was able to thank him and shortly thereafter regained the function of my legs. I made my way home and spent several days healing from what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.

I did not see that man’s face – just his lower half and a large metal toolbox he was carrying – but he helped me, at a moment I was in my weakest state.

Frequently, society tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that emotional callousness. He demonstrated that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, something I love about my fellow humans.