Feeling So Sick Walking Was Impossible Until a Fellow Passenger Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.

During my nineteenth year, my daily commute involved an crowded coach. It remained full and was consistently standing room only once I stepped aboard.

On one specific day, I was feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle swayed around the bends. I continuously reassured myself to hold on another few kilometres before the bus arrived at my stop, at which point I could rush hurriedly to the closest washroom to be sick.

As we neared the avenue close to my stop and I understood I would not be to last. Suddenly, it felt as if a veil came over me. Everything just went blank and silent; as if someone muted everything. I thought, “I’m going to faint”.

Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver of the bus, so I managed a couple of steps to ask the driver and requested that the driver to open the doors, informing him I was going to get ill. He promptly opened the entrance and I hurriedly stepped on to the pavement.

My intention was to avoid being sick before six lanes of traffic, so I gathered myself and began attempting to make my way to the park opposite the street, thinking I could I’d at least be able to secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to throw up. However I apparently fainted. I was aware of my body but I couldn’t walk or see properly, leading me to start inching my way to my intended destination.

“You right, love?”

Right then, someone picked me up. I sensed a strong arm supporting me and heard a man say, “Everything alright, love?” I explained to this kind passerby that I required to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically carried me into a close-by structure and placed me in the ladies’ toilets. He wanted to know if I needed him to wait for me but I declined.

A few minutes later, I regained my composure sufficiently to sit down when from beyond the door came him inquire, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I was incapable to get up at that moment but I was able to thank him and shortly thereafter regained the function of my limbs. I returned home passing the next few days getting over which was a severe stomach virus.

I never saw that man’s face – just his lower half and the big metal toolbox he held – but he saved me, when I was at my most vulnerable.

Many times, life can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that undoes that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency is towards kindness, a quality I adore about humanity.