In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to a Bathroom.
At the age of my late teens, my daily commute meant taking an packed public transport. It remained crowded and invariably became standing room only by the time I stepped aboard.
On one specific day, I began feeling terribly ill while the vehicle swayed around the bends. I continuously reassured myself to endure another few kilometres so the bus could reached my stop, and then I could rush hurriedly toward the most convenient public toilet to vomit.
As we neared the street towards the destination as I realised I was unable to make it. All of a sudden, it felt as if a curtain fell over me. Everything just went white and really quiet; similar to when one turned off the audio. I thought, “I am about to pass out”.
Luckily I was toward the front on the bus, allowing me to take a couple of steps toward the driver and told the operator to open the doors, informing him I was going to vomit. He opened the bus doors and I stumbled out out onto the street.
My intention was to avoid being sick before a busy multi-lane road, so I picked myself up and endeavored to stumble to the park on the other side, thinking I could it would allow me to find some privacy near some foliage to vomit. However I apparently blacked out. I sensed my physical self, yet walking was impossible or see properly, so I started inching my way to the grassy area.
“Are you okay, dear?”
At that moment, I was lifted up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I explained to this mysterious stranger that I required to be sick. So he virtually carried me down into a close-by structure and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I needed him to remain with me but I said no.
A few minutes later, I felt better sufficiently to sit on the restroom floor when from beyond the door came his voice asking, “Do you need anything, love? Do you need anything?” I was incapable to get up right away but I did succeed to express my gratitude and after a few more minutes regained the function of my legs. I got myself home passing the following days recovering from what was later diagnosed as a nasty tummy bug.
I never saw the stranger’s face – only his legs and a large metal toolbox he held – yet he rescued me, when I was completely helpless.
Often this world has a way of making you guarded, hostile, and combative. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that hardening of the heart. He was proof that people’s natural inclination is to be kind, a quality I adore in other people.