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

Back when I was 19 years old, my regular journey to work meant taking an express bus. It remained crowded and would always be completely full by the time I boarded.

One particular morning, I was feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle rocked around each corner. I repeatedly told myself to persevere another few kilometres so the bus could arrived at my stop, at which point I could make a mad dash for the nearest public restroom to throw up.

The bus was approaching the street towards the destination as I understood I was unable to last. All of a sudden, it was like a veil came over me. The world became hazy and muffled; as if someone turned off the audio. I said to myself, “I will lose consciousness”.

Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver of the bus, allowing me to take a few steps forward and told the operator to pull over, explaining to him that I was about to vomit. The driver opened the doors and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.

I was determined to not get sick in front of six lanes of traffic, so I forced myself up and began attempting to make my way to the park opposite the street, thinking I could I could at least secretly conceal myself near some foliage to vomit. However I apparently fainted. I was aware of my body but I couldn’t walk or see clearly, so I started dragging myself toward the grassy area.

“You right, love?”

In that instant, someone picked me up. I felt someone holding me and a stranger inquired, “Everything alright, love?” I told this mysterious stranger that I required to vomit. So he virtually helped me walk into a nearby building and placed me into the female bathroom. He inquired whether I required him to stay with me but I declined.

Not long after, I felt better sufficiently to sit down and from outside the door came him inquire, “Do you need anything, love? Do you need anything?” I wasn’t able to stand up just then but I was able to thank him and after a few more minutes recovered the use of my legs. I got myself home passing the following days recovering from what turned out to be a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I did not see his features – just his lower half along with a sizable metal toolbox he was carrying – but he saved me, during a time when I was at my most vulnerable.

Many times, life can make you guarded, hostile, and combative. His was the sort of gesture that undoes that hardening of the heart. He was proof that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, something I love about my fellow humans.