I Was So Ill I Was Unable to Walk When a Man Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.

At the age of my late teens, my regular journey to work involved an express bus. It was perpetually jammed and invariably became completely full once I got on.

One particular morning, I started experiencing quite nauseous while the vehicle lurched around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to persevere for a few more stops until the bus arrived at my stop, so I could then rush hurriedly toward the most convenient public toilet to throw up.

As we neared the street towards the destination as I understood I would not be to make it. Suddenly, it was like a veil came over me. The world became hazy and muffled; similar to when one muted everything. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.

Fortunately, I stood close to the driver on the bus, so I took a few steps to ask the driver and asked the driver to open the doors, telling him that I was about to vomit. He promptly opened the bus doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.

I was resolved to not get sick in view of six lanes of traffic, so I forced myself up and endeavored to make my way across to the park across the road, where I believed it would allow me to secretly conceal myself behind a bush to vomit. Yet I apparently blacked out. I sensed my body but I was unable to walk or see properly, so I started inching my way to the park.

“You right, love?”

In that instant, I was lifted up. I sensed a strong arm supporting me and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I managed to tell the unknown man that I had to to vomit. Thus, he practically carried me into a close-by structure and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I needed him to wait for me but I said no.

A few minutes later, I had recovered to the point of sitting down and from outside the door I heard him inquire, “Are you feeling better, dear? Can I get you something?” I was incapable to rise at that moment but did manage to thank him and following a brief period recovered the use of my feet. I made my way home passing several days getting over which was a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never glimpsed that man’s face – only his legs and a large container for tools he held – but he helped me, at a moment I was in my weakest state.

Many times, life has a way of making you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. What he did was the kind of action that undoes that emotional callousness. He demonstrated that people’s natural inclination leans toward compassion, something I love about humanity.