Feeling So Sick Walking Was Impossible When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to a Bathroom.

Back when I was 19 years old, my daily commute meant taking an packed public transport. It remained crowded and was consistently without any seats when I boarded.

During a certain commute, I began feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle rocked around each corner. I continuously reassured myself to persevere another few kilometres until the bus reached my destination, so I could then make a mad dash for the nearest public toilet to throw up.

We were coming down the road leading to my stop and I realised I wasn’t going to hold on. In an instant, it was like a fog descended upon me. The world became hazy and muffled; like someone had turned off the audio. I said to myself, “I will lose consciousness”.

Luckily I was near the front inside the vehicle, so I managed several steps toward the driver and asked the driver to open the doors, explaining to him I needed to be sick. He opened the bus doors and I stumbled out out onto the street.

I was resolved not to vomit before multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and started trying to make my way across to the park on the other side, thinking I could I could at least secretly conceal myself behind a bush to be sick. Yet I must have fainted. I was aware of my limbs, but I was unable to walk or see properly, leading me to start dragging myself toward the park.

“You right, love?”

In that instant, I was lifted up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and heard a man say, “Everything alright, love?” I explained to this unknown man that I required to get to a bathroom. So he virtually helped me walk over to an adjacent building and guided me inside the women’s restroom. He inquired if I needed him to stay with me but I refused.

Not long after, I regained my composure enough to sit on the toilet when from beyond the door came him inquire, “Are you feeling better, dear? Can I get you something?” I was incapable to rise at that moment but I was able to express my gratitude and shortly thereafter regained the function of my limbs. I made my way home and spent several days recovering from what turned out to be a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never saw the stranger’s face – merely his legs and the big metal toolbox he was carrying – yet he rescued me, when I was completely helpless.

Many times, life tends to make people self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that protective shell. He served as evidence that our default setting leans toward compassion, a trait I cherish about my fellow humans.