Feeling So Sick Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.

During my nineteenth year, my morning travel involved an crowded coach. It was perpetually jammed and was consistently without any seats by the time I stepped aboard.

During a certain commute, I began feeling incredibly sick when the coach swayed around the bends. I continuously reassured myself to persevere just a little longer so the bus could reached where I needed to get off, so I could then rush hurriedly for the nearest public restroom to vomit.

The bus was approaching the avenue close to the stop when it dawned on me I wasn’t going to make it. Suddenly, it seemed a curtain fell over me. My vision turned blank and silent; like someone had muted everything. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.

Luckily I was close to the driver inside the vehicle, so I took a couple of steps to ask the driver and told the operator to pull over, informing him I needed to be sick. The driver opened the doors and I stumbled out on to the pavement.

I was resolved to avoid being sick before multiple lanes of cars, so I gathered myself and started trying to stumble across to the park across the road, where I thought I’d at least be able to find some privacy near some foliage to be sick. However I must have fainted. I could feel my limbs, but walking was impossible or see properly, leading me to start crawling towards the grassy area.

“Everything alright, love?”

At that moment, I got scooped up. There was an arm around my waist and a man’s voice asked, “You right, love?” I explained to this kind passerby that I had to to get to a bathroom. Therefore, he almost carried me over to an adjacent building and placed me in the ladies’ toilets. He asked me if I wanted him to wait for me but I declined.

Not long after, I felt better sufficiently to sit on the restroom floor when from beyond the door came his voice asking, “Are you feeling better, dear? Can I get you something?” I was incapable to rise at that moment but I was able to say thank you and shortly thereafter was able to move my limbs. I got myself home and spent the following days getting over what turned out to be a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I did not see the stranger’s face – just his lower half and the big metal toolbox he held – but he saved me, during a time when I was in my weakest state.

Often this world has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that undoes that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency is towards kindness, a trait I cherish in other people.