I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible Until a Fellow Passenger Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.

Back when I was 19 years old, my morning travel involved an express bus. It was perpetually full and would always be completely full once I stepped aboard.

During a certain commute, I began feeling quite nauseous when the coach lurched around each corner. I kept telling myself to persevere for a few more stops until the bus arrived at my destination, so I could then make a mad dash for the nearest public toilet to be sick.

The bus was approaching the street towards my stop and I understood I was unable to make it. In an instant, it seemed a curtain fell over me. My vision turned blank and silent; as if someone turned off the audio. I said to myself, “I will lose consciousness”.

Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver inside the vehicle, so I took a couple of steps toward the driver and asked the driver to pull over, telling him I was going to vomit. The driver opened the entrance and I stumbled out on to the pavement.

I was resolved to avoid being sick in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I gathered myself and endeavored to stumble to the park across the road, where I believed I could at least secretly conceal myself behind a bush to vomit. However I must have lost consciousness. I was aware of my body but walking was impossible or see clearly, so I started dragging myself toward my intended destination.

“Are you okay, dear?”

Right then, I was lifted up. There was an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “Everything alright, love?” I told this kind passerby that I required to be sick. Therefore, he almost helped me walk down into a nearby building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He wanted to know if I wanted him to wait for me but I declined.

A few minutes later, I felt better enough to sit down and from outside the stall I heard him ask, “Do you need anything, love? Is there anything you require?” I wasn’t able to stand up at that moment but did manage to express my gratitude and after a few more minutes regained the function of my legs. I got myself home passing the next few days healing from which was a severe stomach virus.

I did not see the stranger’s face – merely his legs along with a sizable steelwork tools container he had with him – yet he rescued me, at a moment I was at my most vulnerable.

Frequently, society tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, something I love about humanity.