I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Virtually Carried Me to a Bathroom.

Back when I was 19 years old, my regular journey to work meant taking an express bus. It was perpetually crowded and was consistently standing room only by the time I got on.

On one specific day, I was feeling incredibly sick as the bus lurched around the bends. I repeatedly told myself to hold on for a few more stops until the bus arrived at where I needed to get off, at which point I could sprint quickly toward the most convenient washroom to be sick.

The bus was approaching the street towards the destination as it dawned on me I would not be to last. All of a sudden, it felt as if a veil came over me. My vision turned blank and silent; similar to when one turned off the audio. My mind raced, “I am about to pass out”.

Fortunately, I stood close to the driver on the bus, so I managed a few steps to ask the driver and requested that the driver to stop, explaining to him that I was about to vomit. He promptly opened the bus doors and I weakly exited on to the pavement.

I was resolved to not get sick in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and began attempting to walk across to the park across the road, where I thought I’d at least be able to find some privacy among some shrubs to be sick. However I likely lost consciousness. I could feel my body but walking was impossible or see properly, leading me to start inching my way to the park.

“You right, love?”

Right then, I got scooped up. I felt an arm around my waist and a man’s voice asked, “Everything alright, love?” I told this mysterious stranger that I had to to vomit. So he virtually carried me down into a close-by structure and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He wanted to know if I wanted him to remain with me but I declined.

After a short while, I felt better to the point of sitting down and from the other side of the door I heard him inquire, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to rise just then but I was able to say thank you and following a brief period was able to move my limbs. I got myself home passing several days healing from what turned out to be a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I did not see that man’s face – merely his legs and the big container for tools he held – but he saved me, at a moment I was completely helpless.

Many times, life tends to make people self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His act was the type of kindness that undoes that protective shell. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, something I love about my fellow humans.