In Such Poor Health Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.
Back when I was nineteenth year, my morning travel meant taking an express bus. It remained full and invariably became completely full by the time I got on.
On one specific day, I was feeling terribly ill when the coach lurched around the bends. I continuously reassured myself to endure another few kilometres so the bus could reached where I needed to get off, and then I could make a mad dash to the closest washroom to throw up.
The bus was approaching the avenue close to the stop when I realised I would not be to hold on. In an instant, it seemed a curtain fell over me. Everything just went hazy and muffled; similar to when one cut the sound. My mind raced, “I will lose consciousness”.
Fortunately, I stood close to the driver of the bus, allowing me to take several steps toward the driver and told the operator to pull over, telling him I needed to vomit. He opened the bus doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.
My intention was to avoid being sick before multiple lanes of cars, so I gathered myself and started trying to make my way toward the green space opposite the street, thinking I could it would allow me to find some privacy behind a bush to vomit. But then I apparently fainted. I could feel my limbs, but walking was impossible or see properly, so I began inching my way to my intended destination.
“Are you okay, dear?”
At that moment, someone picked me up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a man’s voice asked, “Everything alright, love?” I told this kind passerby that I required to vomit. Therefore, he almost helped me walk down into an adjacent building and guided me inside the women’s restroom. He inquired whether I required him to remain with me but I said no.
After a short while, I had recovered to the point of sitting on the toilet when from beyond the stall I heard his voice asking, “Are you feeling better, dear? Can I get you something?” I was incapable to get up just then but did manage to express my gratitude and shortly thereafter was able to move my legs. I got myself home passing the following days recovering from what was later diagnosed as a severe stomach virus.
I did not see the stranger’s face – just his lower half and the big container for tools he held – but he saved me, at a moment I was completely helpless.
Many times, life has a way of making you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His was the sort of gesture that undoes that protective shell. He was proof that our default setting is towards kindness, a trait I cherish in other people.
