In Such Poor Health Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.
At the age of my late teens, my daily commute meant taking an crowded coach. It remained full and would always be without any seats by the time I got on.
One particular morning, I was feeling incredibly sick when the coach swayed around each corner. I kept telling myself to persevere just a little longer before the bus got to my stop, so I could then make a mad dash toward the most convenient washroom to be sick.
We were coming down the street towards the destination as I understood I wasn’t going to last. All of a sudden, it felt as if a curtain fell over me. The world became white and really quiet; similar to when one muted everything. My mind raced, “I will lose consciousness”.
Thankfully, I was positioned toward the front of the bus, allowing me to take a couple of steps to ask the driver and told the operator to stop, informing him I needed to get ill. The driver opened the entrance and I weakly exited out onto the street.
I was resolved to not get sick in front of a busy multi-lane road, so I forced myself up and began attempting to stumble to the park across the road, where I believed I’d at least be able to discreetly hide among some shrubs to throw up. Yet I must have lost consciousness. I sensed my physical self, yet I was unable to walk or see clearly, so I began crawling towards the grassy area.
“Everything alright, love?”
Right then, I was lifted up. I felt someone holding me and heard a man say, “Are you okay, dear?” I told this kind passerby that I had to to vomit. So he virtually supported my weight into a nearby building and placed me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I wanted him to wait for me but I said no.
After a short while, I regained my composure enough to sit down and from outside the stall I heard his voice asking, “Do you need anything, love? Can I get you something?” I wasn’t able to stand up just then but I was able to say thank you 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 was later diagnosed as a nasty tummy bug.
I did not see the stranger’s face – just his lower half and a large metal toolbox he was carrying – but he saved me, during a time when I was completely helpless.
Many times, life tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that undoes that emotional callousness. He served as evidence that our default setting is towards kindness, a quality I adore about humanity.
