I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible Until a Fellow Passenger Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.

At the age of nineteenth year, my morning travel was on an express bus. The vehicle was always full and was consistently standing room only by the time I boarded.

During a certain commute, I started experiencing terribly ill while the vehicle swayed around the bends. I kept telling myself to endure for a few more stops until the bus got to where I needed to get off, so I could then rush hurriedly for the nearest washroom to throw up.

As we neared the street towards the destination as I realised I was unable to make it. All of a sudden, it seemed a veil came over me. The world became blank and silent; similar to when one muted everything. I thought, “I am about to pass out”.

Fortunately, I stood toward the front inside the vehicle, allowing me to take several steps toward the driver and asked the driver to pull over, telling him I was going to be sick. He opened the doors and I weakly exited on to the pavement.

I was determined to not get sick in front of six lanes of traffic, so I forced myself up and began attempting to walk to the park across the road, thinking I could I could at least secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to throw up. But then I likely lost consciousness. I was aware of my limbs, but I couldn’t walk and my vision was blurry, so I began inching my way to the park.

“You right, love?”

At that moment, I was lifted up. There was someone holding me and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I managed to tell the unknown man that I needed to vomit. Therefore, he almost carried me over to a close-by structure and placed me into the female bathroom. He asked me if I wanted him to stay with me but I declined.

Not long after, I regained my composure enough to sit on the toilet and from outside the stall I heard his voice asking, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I was incapable to stand up right away but I did succeed to say thank you and after a few more minutes regained the function 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 – just his lower half and a large metal toolbox he was carrying – yet he rescued me, during a time when I was at my most vulnerable.

Many times, life can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that emotional callousness. He demonstrated that our default setting is to be kind, a quality I adore in other people.