Feeling So Sick Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Practically Supported Me to a Bathroom.
At the age of my late teens, my morning travel was on an express bus. It was perpetually crowded and invariably became completely full when I boarded.
During a certain commute, I started experiencing incredibly sick as the bus swayed around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to hold on another few kilometres before the bus got to my destination, and then I could sprint quickly to the closest washroom to vomit.
We were coming down the street towards my stop and I realised I wasn’t going to make it. In an instant, it seemed a veil came over me. Everything just went white and really quiet; as if someone cut the sound. My mind raced, “I am about to pass out”.
Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver of the bus, allowing me to take a couple of steps toward the driver and told the operator to stop, informing him that I was about to be sick. The driver opened the doors and I hurriedly stepped out onto the street.
I was determined to not get sick before multiple lanes of cars, so I forced myself up and began attempting to walk toward the green space on the other side, where I thought I’d at least be able to discreetly hide near some foliage to be sick. However I likely blacked out. I could feel my body but I was unable to walk or see properly, so I started dragging myself toward the park.
“Everything alright, love?”
At that moment, someone picked me up. I sensed an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “You right, love?” I told this unknown man that I had to to vomit. Thus, he practically supported my weight into a nearby building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I wanted him to stay with me but I declined.
A few minutes later, I felt better enough to sit on the toilet and from outside the stall I heard him ask, “Are you OK, love? Is there anything you require?” I could not to stand up at that moment but did manage to thank him and following a brief period regained the function of my limbs. I made my way home and then spent the next few days healing from what was later diagnosed as a nasty tummy bug.
I did not see the stranger’s face – merely his legs along with a sizable steelwork tools container he had with him – but he saved me, when I was at my most vulnerable.
Often this world can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that undoes that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, a quality I adore in other people.
