In Such Poor Health Walking Was Impossible When a Man Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.

At the age of 19 years old, my morning travel was on an crowded coach. It was perpetually jammed and invariably became without any seats by the time I stepped aboard.

On one specific day, I began feeling terribly ill when the coach lurched around each corner. I repeatedly told myself to hold on another few kilometres until the bus arrived at my stop, so I could then sprint quickly to the closest washroom to vomit.

The bus was approaching the road leading to my stop and I understood I was unable to hold on. All of a sudden, it seemed a fog descended upon me. Everything just went hazy and muffled; like someone had muted everything. I said to myself, “I am about to pass out”.

Luckily I was toward the front of the bus, allowing me to take a couple of steps toward the driver and told the operator to pull over, explaining to him I was going to be sick. He opened the doors and I weakly exited out onto the street.

I was resolved not to vomit before six lanes of traffic, so I picked myself up and endeavored to walk across to the park on the other side, where I thought it would allow me to secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to throw up. Yet I apparently fainted. I could feel my physical self, yet I couldn’t walk or see clearly, so I started dragging myself toward my intended destination.

“Are you okay, dear?”

In that instant, someone picked me up. I sensed an arm around my waist and heard a man say, “Are you okay, dear?” I told this mysterious stranger that I needed to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically supported my weight over to a nearby building and placed me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I wanted him to wait for me but I declined.

A few minutes later, I had recovered to the point of sitting on the toilet when from beyond the door I heard him inquire, “Are you OK, love? Is there anything you require?” I could not to get up just then but did manage to thank him and following a brief period recovered the use of my legs. I got myself home and spent several days healing from what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.

I did not see the stranger’s face – merely his legs along with a sizable container for tools he held – but he helped me, when I was in my weakest state.

Frequently, society has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that emotional callousness. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, something I love about my fellow humans.