Feeling So Sick Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Virtually Carried Me to the Toilets.

At the age of 19 years old, my daily commute meant taking an crowded coach. It remained jammed and was consistently completely full by the time I got on.

During a certain commute, I was feeling terribly ill while the vehicle rocked around each corner. I repeatedly told myself to hold on another few kilometres until the bus got to my destination, and then I could rush hurriedly for the nearest washroom to throw up.

The bus was approaching the street towards my stop and it dawned on me I was unable to last. Suddenly, it seemed a fog descended upon me. My vision turned blank and silent; like someone had muted everything. I thought, “I am about to pass out”.

Fortunately, I stood toward the front on the bus, so I managed several steps to ask the driver and asked the driver to stop, telling him that I was about to get ill. The driver opened the doors and I hurriedly stepped onto the sidewalk.

I was resolved to avoid being sick in view of multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and began attempting to make my way toward the green space on the other side, where I believed I could at least discreetly hide behind a bush to be sick. But then I apparently blacked out. I could feel my body but I couldn’t walk or see clearly, leading me to start inching my way to my intended destination.

“You right, love?”

At that moment, I got scooped up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I managed to tell the unknown man that I required to be sick. So he virtually helped me walk down into a close-by structure and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired whether I required him to wait for me but I declined.

A few minutes later, I had recovered enough to sit on the restroom floor when from beyond the stall I heard him ask, “Do you need anything, love? Is there anything you require?” I wasn’t able to get up right away but I was able to thank him and shortly thereafter regained the function of my feet. I got myself home and spent the next few days healing from which was a nasty tummy bug.

I did not see the stranger’s face – only his legs and the big steelwork tools container he had with him – but he saved me, at a moment I was at my most vulnerable.

Often this world has a way of making you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that emotional callousness. He demonstrated that humanity’s innate tendency leans toward compassion, something I love about humanity.