I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible Until a Fellow Passenger Virtually Carried Me to the Toilets.

Back when I was my late teens, my morning travel was on an packed public transport. It was perpetually crowded and was consistently without any seats when I boarded.

On one specific day, I started experiencing incredibly sick while the vehicle lurched around each corner. I continuously reassured myself to persevere just a little longer until the bus arrived at where I needed to get off, and then I could rush hurriedly toward the most convenient public restroom to be sick.

The bus was approaching the avenue close to the stop when I understood I was unable to hold on. In an instant, it seemed a curtain fell over me. Everything just went white and really quiet; like someone had turned off the audio. My mind raced, “I’m going to faint”.

Luckily I was near the front of the bus, allowing me to take several steps toward the driver and asked the driver to open the doors, explaining to him that I was about to be sick. He opened the entrance and I weakly exited out onto the street.

I was resolved not to vomit in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I forced myself up and started trying to stumble to the park on the other side, where I thought I could at least secretly conceal myself near some foliage to be sick. However I likely blacked out. I was aware of my limbs, but I was unable to walk or see properly, leading me to start crawling towards the grassy area.

“You right, love?”

Right then, I was lifted up. I sensed a strong arm supporting me and heard a man say, “Are you okay, dear?” I explained to this mysterious stranger that I needed to be sick. Thus, he practically supported my weight into a close-by structure and put me into the female bathroom. He asked me if I wanted him to stay with me but I refused.

A few minutes later, I had recovered sufficiently to sit on the restroom floor when from beyond the door came his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Is there anything you require?” I could not to stand up right away but did manage to express my gratitude and after a few more minutes regained the function of my limbs. I got myself home and then spent the next few days healing from what turned out to be a nasty tummy bug.

I never glimpsed the stranger’s face – merely his legs along with a sizable steelwork tools container he had with him – but he helped me, during a time when I was in my weakest state.

Often this world can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that protective shell. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, a quality I adore about my fellow humans.