In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Practically Supported Me to a Restroom.

At the age of nineteenth year, my morning travel meant taking an express bus. It remained full and was consistently completely full when I stepped aboard.

One particular morning, I was feeling quite nauseous as the bus rocked around every turn. I repeatedly told myself to hold on just a little longer until the bus reached where I needed to get off, so I could then rush hurriedly to the closest washroom to vomit.

The bus was approaching the street towards my stop and it dawned on me I wasn’t going to last. Suddenly, it was like a veil came over me. My vision turned blank and silent; similar to when one cut the sound. I said to myself, “I am about to pass out”.

Fortunately, I stood close to the driver on the bus, so I managed several steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to open the doors, explaining to him I was going to get ill. He promptly opened the doors and I weakly exited out onto the street.

I was determined to not get sick in front of a busy multi-lane road, so I picked myself up and endeavored to walk across to the park across the road, thinking I could I could at least secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to be sick. But then I likely lost consciousness. I sensed my body but I couldn’t walk or see properly, so I started dragging myself toward the park.

“You right, love?”

At that moment, I was lifted up. I sensed someone holding me and a stranger inquired, “You right, love?” I managed to tell the mysterious stranger that I required to get to a bathroom. Therefore, he almost helped me walk into an adjacent building and guided me inside the women’s restroom. He wanted to know if I needed him to stay with me but I said no.

A few minutes later, I felt better enough to sit down and from the other side of the stall I heard him inquire, “Do you need anything, love? Is there anything you require?” I was incapable to stand up right away but did manage to say thank you and after a few more minutes regained the function of my legs. I got myself home and spent the next few days recovering from what was later diagnosed as a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I did not see that man’s face – only his legs along with a sizable steelwork tools container he held – yet he rescued me, at a moment I was at my most vulnerable.

Often this world has a way of making you guarded, hostile, and combative. What he did was the kind of action that melts away that emotional callousness. He was proof that humanity’s innate tendency is towards kindness, a trait I cherish about my fellow humans.