In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.

At the age of 19 years old, my daily commute was on an express bus. It remained jammed and would always be without any seats once I stepped aboard.

On one specific day, I was feeling terribly ill as the bus lurched around the bends. I kept telling myself to persevere just a little longer so the bus could reached my destination, and then I could rush hurriedly toward the most convenient washroom to vomit.

As we neared the road leading to the stop when I realised I wasn’t going to last. In an instant, it was like a veil came over me. My vision turned blank and silent; like someone had turned off the audio. My mind raced, “I am about to pass out”.

Fortunately, I stood close to the driver of the bus, allowing me to take several steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to open the doors, informing him I needed to vomit. The driver opened the doors and I weakly exited out onto the street.

My intention was to avoid being sick before multiple lanes of cars, so I forced myself up and started trying to stumble across to the park on the other side, thinking I could I could at least secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to vomit. But then I must have lost consciousness. I could feel my physical self, yet I was unable to walk and my vision was blurry, so I began dragging myself toward the grassy area.

“Are you okay, dear?”

Right then, someone picked me up. There was an arm around my waist and heard a man say, “Are you okay, dear?” I managed to tell the mysterious stranger that I needed to get to a bathroom. Therefore, he almost helped me walk into a nearby building and placed me into the female bathroom. He inquired if I wanted him to stay with me but I said no.

A few minutes later, I regained my composure sufficiently to sit on the toilet and from outside the door came him inquire, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I wasn’t able to stand up at that moment but I did succeed to express my gratitude and following a brief period recovered the use of my feet. I got myself home passing several days getting over what was later diagnosed as a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never saw the stranger’s face – merely his legs and a large steelwork tools container he had with him – but he helped me, at a moment I was completely helpless.

Often this world can make you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His was the sort of gesture that reverses that protective shell. He demonstrated that our default setting is to be kind, something I love about humanity.