In Such Poor Health Walking Was Impossible When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.

During my nineteenth year, my morning travel involved an packed public transport. The vehicle was always jammed and invariably became standing room only when I got on.

During a certain commute, I was feeling quite nauseous when the coach swayed around the bends. I kept telling myself to endure just a little longer so the bus could arrived at where I needed to get off, and then I could make a mad dash toward the most convenient public toilet to vomit.

We were coming down the road leading to my stop and I understood I wasn’t going to last. Suddenly, it seemed a veil came over me. The world became hazy and muffled; similar to when one cut the sound. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.

Fortunately, I stood near the front of the bus, so I took several steps to ask the driver and requested that the driver to stop, telling him I was going to vomit. He promptly opened the entrance and I hurriedly stepped on to the pavement.

I was determined not to vomit in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I picked myself up and began attempting to walk toward the green space on the other side, where I thought I could at least secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to vomit. Yet I must have fainted. I was aware of my body but I was unable to walk and my vision was blurry, so I began inching my way to my intended destination.

“Are you okay, dear?”

At that moment, I got scooped up. I sensed someone holding me and a stranger inquired, “You right, love?” I explained to this unknown man that I required to be sick. Therefore, he almost carried me over to a nearby building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired whether I required him to stay with me but I said no.

After a short while, I had recovered to the point of sitting down when from beyond the stall I heard him ask, “Are you OK, love? Is there anything you require?” I wasn’t able to get up right away but I was able to express my gratitude and after a few more minutes was able to move my feet. I returned home passing the following days healing from what was later diagnosed as a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never glimpsed the stranger’s face – merely his legs and a large container for tools he had with him – but he helped me, during a time when I was in my weakest state.

Many times, life can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that undoes that protective shell. He demonstrated that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, a quality I adore about my fellow humans.