I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.
At the age of 19 years old, my regular journey to work was on an crowded coach. It remained crowded and would always be standing room only when I boarded.
On one specific day, I began feeling quite nauseous when the coach swayed around each corner. I repeatedly told myself to endure another few kilometres so the bus could reached where I needed to get off, and then I could sprint quickly for the nearest public toilet to throw up.
We were coming down the street towards my stop and I understood I was unable to hold on. All of a sudden, it was like a veil came over me. Everything just went white and really quiet; as if someone turned off the audio. I thought, “I am about to pass out”.
Fortunately, I stood toward the front of the bus, allowing me to take several steps toward the driver and told the operator to pull over, telling him I needed to get ill. He promptly opened the entrance and I hurriedly stepped onto the sidewalk.
My intention was not to vomit before a busy multi-lane road, so I gathered myself and began attempting to walk to the park opposite the street, thinking I could I could at least discreetly hide near some foliage to throw up. But then I apparently lost consciousness. I sensed my physical self, yet I was unable to walk or see properly, so I started crawling towards the park.
“Are you okay, dear?”
Right then, someone picked me up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a stranger inquired, “You right, love?” I managed to tell the unknown man that I required to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically supported my weight into a nearby building and placed me into the female bathroom. He inquired if I wanted him to stay with me but I declined.
After a short while, I had recovered to the point of sitting on the toilet and from the other side of the door came him inquire, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I wasn’t able to stand up at that moment but did manage to express my gratitude and following a brief period was able to move my feet. I returned home and spent the following days recovering from what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.
I never glimpsed that man’s face – merely his legs and a large container for tools he was carrying – yet he rescued me, during a time when I was at my most vulnerable.
Frequently, society tends to make people self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His was the sort of gesture that undoes that hardening of the heart. He demonstrated that humanity’s innate tendency leans toward compassion, a quality I adore about my fellow humans.
