Feeling So Sick I Was Unable to Walk As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.
During my nineteenth year, my regular journey to work meant taking an crowded coach. The vehicle was always jammed and invariably became standing room only once I stepped aboard.
During a certain commute, I began feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle swayed around each corner. I kept telling myself to persevere for a few more stops so the bus could arrived at where I needed to get off, at which point I could sprint quickly for the nearest public toilet to be sick.
As we neared the street towards the destination as I realised I wasn’t going to last. Suddenly, it was like a fog descended upon me. Everything just went hazy and muffled; similar to when one muted everything. I said to myself, “I will lose consciousness”.
Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver on the bus, so I managed a few steps forward and asked the driver to stop, informing him I needed to vomit. He opened the bus doors and I weakly exited out onto the street.
My intention was to avoid being sick in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I gathered myself and endeavored to make my way across to the park across the road, where I thought I’d at least be able to find some privacy near some foliage to throw up. But then I likely blacked out. I was aware of my physical self, yet walking was impossible or see properly, so I began crawling towards the park.
“Everything alright, love?”
Right then, I got scooped up. I sensed an arm around my waist and a man’s voice asked, “Everything alright, love?” I explained to this unknown man that I needed to get to a bathroom. So he virtually carried me into an adjacent building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I wanted him to wait for me but I said no.
Not long after, I felt better sufficiently to sit on the restroom floor and from outside the door I heard him ask, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to rise right away but I was able to thank him and following a brief period regained the function of my limbs. I got myself home and then spent the following days healing from what was later diagnosed as a severe stomach virus.
I never saw the stranger’s face – only his legs along with a sizable metal toolbox he had with him – yet he rescued me, when I was completely helpless.
Often this world has a way of making you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His act was the type of kindness that undoes that protective shell. He served as evidence that our default setting is towards kindness, something I love about humanity.
