I Was So Ill I Couldn’t Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.

Back when I was 19 years old, my morning travel involved an express bus. It remained crowded and invariably became completely full when I got on.

One particular morning, I began feeling terribly ill as the bus swayed around each corner. I kept telling myself to endure for a few more stops until the bus reached my destination, and then I could rush hurriedly to the closest public restroom to vomit.

The bus was approaching the avenue close to the stop when I realised I wasn’t going to hold on. Suddenly, it seemed a veil came over me. My vision turned hazy and muffled; as if someone muted everything. My mind raced, “I am about to pass out”.

Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver inside the vehicle, allowing me to take a few steps to ask the driver and asked the driver to stop, explaining to him I needed to be sick. He opened the bus doors and I weakly exited out onto the street.

I was determined to avoid being sick in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I gathered myself and endeavored to make my way to the park across the road, where I thought I’d at least be able to secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to be sick. However I likely lost consciousness. I could feel my body but I was unable to walk or see clearly, so I started dragging myself toward my intended destination.

“Are you okay, dear?”

Right then, someone picked me up. There was someone holding me and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I explained to this unknown man that I needed to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically helped me walk down into a close-by structure and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I needed him to wait for me but I declined.

A few minutes later, I had recovered sufficiently to sit on the restroom floor and from outside the stall I heard him inquire, “Do you need anything, love? Do you need anything?” I could not to stand up right away but I did succeed to thank him and following a brief period was able to move my feet. I returned home and spent several days getting over what was later diagnosed as a severe stomach virus.

I never glimpsed his features – just his lower half and the big steelwork tools container he held – but he helped me, when I was in my weakest state.

Often this world can make you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His was the sort of gesture that undoes that protective shell. He served as evidence that our default setting is towards kindness, a trait I cherish in other people.