In Such Poor Health Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.

At the age of nineteenth year, my morning travel involved an crowded coach. The vehicle was always jammed and invariably became without any seats by the time I got on.

One particular morning, I was feeling incredibly sick when the coach lurched around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to endure for a few more stops so the bus could got to where I needed to get off, at which point I could make a mad dash to the closest public toilet to throw up.

As we neared the avenue close to the stop when I understood I would not be to last. Suddenly, it was like a fog descended upon me. Everything just went blank and silent; like someone had cut the sound. I thought, “I am about to pass out”.

Thankfully, I was positioned near the front of the bus, so I took a few steps to ask the driver and asked the driver to open the doors, telling him that I was about to be sick. He opened the doors and I weakly exited on to the pavement.

My intention was to avoid being sick in front of a busy multi-lane road, so I forced myself up and endeavored to make my way across to the park opposite the street, where I believed I’d at least be able to discreetly hide behind a bush to throw up. However I apparently lost consciousness. I was aware of my physical self, yet I was unable to walk and my vision was blurry, so I began inching my way to the park.

“You right, love?”

Right then, I was lifted up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and heard a man say, “You right, love?” I explained to this unknown man that I needed to be sick. Thus, he practically carried me down into a nearby building and guided me inside the women’s restroom. He asked me if I wanted him to stay with me but I said no.

A few minutes later, I felt better sufficiently to sit on the restroom floor when from beyond the door came his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I wasn’t able to get up right away but I was able to say thank you and after a few more minutes regained the function of my feet. I got myself home and then spent several days healing from what turned out to be a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never glimpsed his features – merely his legs and the big container for tools he was carrying – but he saved me, at a moment I was at my most vulnerable.

Often this world tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that melts away that protective shell. He demonstrated that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, a quality I adore in other people.