In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Virtually Carried Me to the Toilets.

At the age of 19 years old, my daily commute meant taking an express bus. The vehicle was always jammed and was consistently standing room only once I stepped aboard.

One particular morning, I started experiencing incredibly sick as the bus rocked around each corner. I kept telling myself to endure another few kilometres before the bus reached my stop, and then I could rush hurriedly for the nearest public restroom to vomit.

We were coming down the avenue close to the stop when I understood I wasn’t going to hold on. In an instant, it was like a veil came over me. Everything just went blank and silent; as if someone turned off the audio. My mind raced, “I will lose consciousness”.

Fortunately, I stood close to the driver on the bus, so I took a couple of steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to stop, explaining to him I was going to get ill. He promptly opened the bus doors and I hurriedly stepped onto the sidewalk.

I was determined to avoid being sick before multiple lanes of cars, so I gathered myself and endeavored to make my way toward the green space across the road, where I thought I could at least discreetly hide behind a bush to vomit. Yet I apparently lost consciousness. I was aware of my body but walking was impossible or see clearly, so I began crawling towards the park.

“Are you okay, dear?”

Right then, I was lifted up. I sensed someone holding me and heard a man say, “Are you okay, dear?” I managed to tell the kind passerby that I needed to get to a bathroom. So he virtually supported my weight into a close-by structure and placed me inside the women’s restroom. He inquired if I wanted him to remain with me but I refused.

After a short while, I felt better enough to sit on the toilet when from beyond the door came him inquire, “Do you need anything, love? Is there anything you require?” I could not to stand up right away but I was able to thank him and shortly thereafter regained the function of my legs. I got myself home and spent the next few days getting over which was a nasty tummy bug.

I never saw that man’s face – only his legs and a large steelwork tools container he held – but he saved me, during a time when I was at my most vulnerable.

Many times, life has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that reverses that emotional callousness. He demonstrated that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, something I love about my fellow humans.