I Was So Ill I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.

At the age of 19 years old, my daily commute involved an crowded coach. It remained full and was consistently standing room only by the time I boarded.

During a certain commute, I started experiencing incredibly sick when the coach lurched around the bends. I repeatedly told myself to hold on another few kilometres until the bus reached my destination, at which point I could sprint quickly toward the most convenient public restroom to throw up.

As we neared the avenue close to the destination as it dawned on me I would not be to hold on. All of a sudden, it seemed a fog descended upon me. My vision turned hazy and muffled; similar to when one turned off the audio. My mind raced, “I am about to pass out”.

Luckily I was close to the driver on the bus, so I took a few steps forward and requested that the driver to open the doors, telling him that I was about to get ill. He promptly opened the entrance 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 began attempting to walk to the park on the other side, where I believed it would allow me to secretly conceal myself behind a bush to throw up. But then I must have lost consciousness. I sensed my body but I was unable to walk or see properly, so I started inching my way to the grassy area.

“Everything alright, love?”

At that moment, I got scooped up. I felt an arm around my waist and a man’s voice asked, “Everything alright, love?” I told this unknown man that I had to to be sick. So he virtually helped me walk over to an adjacent building and guided me into the female bathroom. He asked me if I needed him to wait for me but I said no.

Not long after, I had recovered enough to sit on the toilet when from beyond the door I heard him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Is there anything you require?” I wasn’t able to rise just then but I did succeed to thank him and following a brief period regained the function of my legs. I got myself home and spent the following days recovering from which was a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I did not see the stranger’s face – just his lower half and a large steelwork tools container he held – but he saved me, during a time when I was completely helpless.

Frequently, society can make you guarded, hostile, and combative. His act was the type of kindness that melts away that hardening of the heart. He was proof that people’s natural inclination leans toward compassion, a quality I adore about humanity.