In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Virtually Carried Me to the Toilets.

At the age of 19 years old, my regular journey to work was on an express bus. It remained crowded and would always be without any seats once I got on.

On one specific day, I began feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle swayed around every turn. I repeatedly told myself to endure another few kilometres until the bus arrived at my stop, at which point I could rush hurriedly to the closest washroom to be sick.

The bus was approaching the avenue close to the destination as I realised I wasn’t going to make it. Suddenly, it seemed a curtain fell over me. Everything just went hazy and muffled; like someone had turned off the audio. I thought, “I will lose consciousness”.

Luckily I was toward the front on the bus, so I managed a few steps forward and asked the driver to pull over, explaining to him I needed to get ill. He opened the entrance and I stumbled out on to the pavement.

I was determined not to vomit in view of multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and endeavored to walk toward the green space across the road, thinking I could I could at least discreetly hide near some foliage to throw up. However I apparently lost consciousness. I was aware of my physical self, yet I was unable to walk or see properly, leading me to start dragging myself toward my intended destination.

“Everything alright, love?”

In that instant, I got scooped up. I sensed a strong arm supporting me and a man’s voice asked, “Everything alright, love?” I told this unknown man that I required to vomit. So he virtually carried me over to a close-by structure and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I wanted him to wait for me but I refused.

A few minutes later, I had recovered sufficiently to sit on the restroom floor when from beyond the door came him ask, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I was incapable to get up at that moment but I was able to say thank you and following a brief period was able to move my limbs. I made my way home and spent the following days healing from what turned out to be a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never glimpsed that man’s face – only his legs along with a sizable metal toolbox he held – but he saved me, during a time when I was in my weakest state.

Frequently, society tends to make people guarded, hostile, and combative. His was the sort of gesture that reverses that protective shell. He was proof that humanity’s innate tendency is towards kindness, something I love about my fellow humans.