In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk As a Stranger Practically Supported Me to a Bathroom.
At the age of 19 years old, my regular journey to work was on an packed public transport. It was perpetually jammed and would always be standing room only by the time I got on.
One particular morning, I was feeling quite nauseous as the bus rocked around each corner. I kept telling myself to endure another few kilometres so the bus could reached my stop, so I could then make a mad dash toward the most convenient public restroom to vomit.
The bus was approaching the road leading to the stop when it dawned on me I would not be to last. In an instant, it seemed a veil came over me. Everything just went white and really quiet; like someone had cut the sound. My mind raced, “I’m going to faint”.
Thankfully, I was positioned near the front on the bus, so I managed several steps forward and told the operator to stop, informing him that I was about to be sick. He promptly opened the entrance and I hurriedly stepped out onto the street.
My intention was to not get sick in view of six lanes of traffic, so I forced myself up and started trying to walk across to the park across the road, where I thought I’d at least be able to find some privacy among some shrubs to throw up. But then I must have fainted. I could feel my physical self, yet I couldn’t walk and my vision was blurry, so I started dragging myself toward the park.
“You right, love?”
Right then, I got scooped up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a man’s voice asked, “Everything alright, love?” I told this kind passerby that I needed to vomit. Thus, he practically helped me walk down into an adjacent building and placed me into the female bathroom. He wanted to know if I wanted him to remain with me but I refused.
After a short while, I regained my composure enough to sit down and from the other side of the stall I heard him inquire, “Are you OK, love? Is there anything you require?” I could not to get up at that moment but did manage to express my gratitude and shortly thereafter regained the function of my feet. I returned home and then spent the following days getting over what was later diagnosed as a nasty tummy bug.
I never glimpsed that man’s face – just his lower half and the big steelwork tools container he held – yet he rescued me, at a moment I was completely helpless.
Frequently, society tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that undoes that protective shell. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, a trait I cherish about humanity.
