I Was So Ill I Couldn’t Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Virtually Carried Me to a Bathroom.

Back when I was 19 years old, my morning travel meant taking an packed public transport. It remained crowded and invariably became completely full when I boarded.

During a certain commute, I was feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle lurched around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to endure another few kilometres so the bus could got to my destination, so I could then sprint quickly toward the most convenient public toilet to vomit.

As we neared the avenue close to the stop when I realised I would not be to last. All of a sudden, it seemed a veil came over me. The world became white and really quiet; similar to when one muted everything. My mind raced, “I’m going to faint”.

Thankfully, I was positioned toward the front inside the vehicle, so I managed a few steps forward and requested that the driver to stop, explaining to him that I was about to be sick. He promptly opened the doors and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.

I was resolved to not get sick in front of six lanes of traffic, so I gathered myself and started trying to walk toward the green space on the other side, where I thought it would allow me to discreetly hide near some foliage to throw up. But then I apparently blacked out. I was aware of my limbs, but I was unable to walk or see clearly, so I started dragging myself toward the grassy area.

“Are you okay, dear?”

In that instant, I got scooped up. There was an arm around my waist and a man’s voice asked, “You right, love?” I managed to tell the unknown man that I had to to vomit. Therefore, he almost helped me walk over to an adjacent building and put me into the female bathroom. He wanted to know if I needed him to wait for me but I said no.

A few minutes later, I had recovered sufficiently to sit on the toilet and from the other side of the door came him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Can I get you something?” I was incapable to stand up just then but I was able to express my gratitude and shortly thereafter regained the function of my feet. I returned home and then spent the next few days recovering from what was later diagnosed as a severe stomach virus.

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

Many times, life tends to make people self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that our default setting is to be kind, a quality I adore in other people.