In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.

At the age of nineteenth year, my regular journey to work meant taking an crowded coach. The vehicle was always crowded and would always be standing room only by the time I boarded.

One particular morning, I began feeling quite nauseous as the bus lurched around every turn. I repeatedly told myself to hold on for a few more stops before the bus reached my destination, at which point I could sprint quickly to the closest public restroom to vomit.

As we neared the street towards the destination as I understood I was unable to last. All of a sudden, it was like a curtain fell over me. My vision turned blank and silent; like someone had cut the sound. I said to myself, “I will lose consciousness”.

Luckily I was close to the driver inside the vehicle, allowing me to take several steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to open the doors, informing him I needed to vomit. He promptly opened the doors and I weakly exited on to the pavement.

I was determined to avoid being sick before six lanes of traffic, so I gathered myself and started trying to walk toward the green space on the other side, thinking I could I’d at least be able to discreetly hide among some shrubs to vomit. But then I likely fainted. I sensed my body but walking was impossible or see properly, so I started inching my way to the park.

“You right, love?”

Right then, I got scooped up. I felt someone holding me and heard a man say, “Are you okay, dear?” I told this unknown man that I had to to get to a bathroom. Therefore, he almost helped me walk down into an adjacent building and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He asked me if I needed him to stay with me but I refused.

Not long after, I regained my composure enough to sit on the restroom floor when from beyond the door I heard him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I wasn’t able to rise just then but I was able to say thank you and after a few more minutes regained the function of my feet. I got myself home passing the following days healing from what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.

I never glimpsed that man’s face – merely his legs and the big steelwork tools container he had with him – yet he rescued me, during a time when I was at my most vulnerable.

Often this world has a way of making you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. What he did was the kind of action that melts away that emotional callousness. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, a quality I adore in other people.