In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.

Back when I was nineteenth year, my morning travel involved an crowded coach. It was perpetually jammed and was consistently without any seats when I got on.

On one specific day, I began feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle swayed around the bends. I continuously reassured myself to endure another few kilometres until the bus got to my stop, at which point I could make a mad dash toward the most convenient public toilet to be sick.

As we neared the street towards the destination as it dawned on me I would not be to hold on. All of a sudden, it seemed a fog descended upon me. The world became white and really quiet; as if someone muted everything. I said to myself, “I am about to pass out”.

Luckily I was close to the driver inside the vehicle, allowing me to take a few steps toward the driver and told the operator to open the doors, informing him that I was about to be sick. The driver opened the entrance and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.

My intention was not to vomit before six lanes of traffic, so I picked myself up and started trying to make my way to the park on the other side, thinking I could I could at least secretly conceal myself behind a bush to be sick. Yet I apparently fainted. I could feel my physical self, yet walking was impossible or see clearly, so I began inching my way to my intended destination.

“Everything alright, love?”

In that instant, someone picked me up. I sensed a strong arm supporting me and heard a man say, “Are you okay, dear?” I told this unknown man that I needed to get to a bathroom. So he virtually supported my weight down into a close-by structure and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He wanted to know if I needed him to stay with me but I refused.

A few minutes later, I regained my composure to the point of sitting on the restroom floor when from beyond the stall I heard his voice asking, “Do you need anything, love? Is there anything you require?” I was incapable to stand up right away but did manage to thank him and following a brief period regained the function of my limbs. I got myself home and spent several days getting over which was a nasty tummy bug.

I did not see that man’s face – only his legs along with a sizable container for tools he held – but he helped me, when I was completely helpless.

Many times, life can make you guarded, hostile, and combative. His was the sort of gesture that reverses that protective shell. He was proof that humanity’s innate tendency leans toward compassion, a quality I adore about my fellow humans.