In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.

At the age of nineteenth year, my regular journey to work meant taking an express bus. It remained full and would always be without any seats once I stepped aboard.

On one specific day, I started experiencing incredibly sick as the bus lurched around each corner. I continuously reassured myself to endure for a few more stops before the bus reached my stop, at which point I could rush hurriedly for the nearest public toilet to be sick.

As we neared the road leading to the destination as I understood I was unable to make it. Suddenly, it felt as if a veil came over me. The world became white and really quiet; similar to when one muted everything. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.

Luckily I was near the front on the bus, so I managed several steps to ask the driver and asked the driver to stop, explaining to him I was going to get ill. He promptly opened the bus doors and I hurriedly stepped out onto the street.

I was resolved not to vomit in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and began attempting to walk toward the green space on the other side, thinking I could I’d at least be able to secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to throw up. Yet I likely lost consciousness. I was aware of my limbs, but walking was impossible and my vision was blurry, so I began dragging myself toward the park.

“Everything alright, love?”

In that instant, I got scooped up. There was someone holding me and a stranger inquired, “You right, love?” I told this unknown man that I required to vomit. So he virtually helped me walk down into a nearby building and put me into the female bathroom. He asked me if I wanted him to remain with me but I said no.

After a short while, I had recovered sufficiently to sit on the toilet and from outside the stall I heard him ask, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I wasn’t able to get up just then but I was able to say thank you and shortly thereafter was able to move my limbs. I got myself home and then spent the following days recovering from what turned out to be a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I did not see that man’s face – merely his legs along with a sizable metal toolbox he was carrying – but he helped me, when I was at my most vulnerable.

Often this world can make you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. What he did was the kind of action that reverses that emotional callousness. He was proof that humanity’s innate tendency leans toward compassion, something I love about humanity.