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

At the age of nineteenth year, my morning travel meant taking an express bus. The vehicle was always jammed and would always be without any seats by the time I got on.

One particular morning, I was feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle rocked around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to persevere another few kilometres until the bus reached my stop, and then I could rush hurriedly for the nearest public restroom to throw up.

As we neared the street towards the destination as I understood I would not be to hold on. In an instant, it was like a curtain fell over me. The world became white and really quiet; as if someone cut the sound. I thought, “I’m going to faint”.

Fortunately, I stood toward the front inside the vehicle, allowing me to take a couple of steps to ask the driver and asked the driver to stop, informing him that I was about to get ill. The driver opened the entrance and I weakly exited out onto the street.

I was resolved to not get sick in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I picked myself up and began attempting to walk toward the green space across the road, where I thought I’d at least be able to discreetly hide among some shrubs to throw up. Yet I must have fainted. I was aware of my limbs, but I couldn’t walk or see properly, leading me to start crawling towards the grassy area.

“Are you okay, dear?”

At that moment, someone picked me up. I sensed someone holding me and a man’s voice asked, “Everything alright, love?” I managed to tell the mysterious stranger that I had to to vomit. So he virtually carried me down into an adjacent building and put me inside the women’s restroom. He wanted to know whether I required him to stay with me but I declined.

Not long after, I had recovered enough to sit on the toilet and from the other side of the stall I heard him inquire, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to get up right away but did manage to say thank you and after a few more minutes recovered the use of my legs. I returned home and spent several days getting over what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.

I never glimpsed his features – merely his legs and a large metal toolbox he held – yet he rescued me, during a time when I was in my weakest state.

Often this world can make you guarded, hostile, and combative. His was the sort of gesture that undoes that protective shell. He was proof that people’s natural inclination leans toward compassion, a trait I cherish in other people.