I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.

At the age of 19 years old, my morning travel was on an crowded coach. It was perpetually full and invariably became completely full by the time I boarded.

One particular morning, I began feeling quite nauseous as the bus swayed around every turn. I repeatedly told myself to hold on for a few more stops so the bus could arrived at where I needed to get off, so I could then make a mad dash to the closest washroom to throw up.

We were coming down the avenue close to the destination as it dawned on me I wasn’t going to make it. All of a sudden, it was like a fog descended upon me. Everything just went hazy and muffled; as if someone cut the sound. I said to myself, “I am about to pass out”.

Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver of the bus, allowing me to take a couple of steps to ask the driver and told the operator to open the doors, informing him I was going to vomit. He promptly opened the doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.

I was resolved to not get sick in front of six lanes of traffic, so I forced myself up and started trying to stumble toward the green space on the other side, where I thought I could at least secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to throw up. Yet I likely lost consciousness. I was aware of my physical self, yet walking was impossible and my vision was blurry, so I started dragging myself toward the park.

“You right, love?”

In that instant, someone picked me up. I felt someone holding me and heard a man say, “You right, love?” I told this mysterious stranger that I required to be sick. So he virtually helped me walk down into a nearby building and put me into the female bathroom. He inquired if I wanted him to remain with me but I refused.

After a short while, I felt better to the point of sitting on the toilet and from the other side of the door came him inquire, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I was incapable to stand up right away but I was able to thank him and following a brief period was able to move my feet. I returned home passing several days recovering from which was a nasty tummy bug.

I never glimpsed that man’s face – merely his legs and the big steelwork tools container he held – but he helped me, when I was in my weakest state.

Many times, life has a way of making you guarded, hostile, and combative. What he did was the kind of action that undoes that hardening of the heart. He demonstrated that people’s natural inclination leans toward compassion, something I love in other people.