I Was So Ill I Was Unable to Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.
During my 19 years old, my regular journey to work meant taking an packed public transport. It remained crowded and invariably became standing room only when I stepped aboard.
One particular morning, I was feeling incredibly sick as the bus rocked around the bends. I repeatedly told myself to endure just a little longer until the bus arrived at where I needed to get off, and then I could rush hurriedly for the nearest washroom to throw up.
We were coming down the road leading to my stop and I realised I wasn’t going to hold on. Suddenly, it was like a fog descended upon me. Everything just went blank and silent; as if someone turned off the audio. 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 couple of steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to stop, telling him I was going to vomit. He opened the doors and I weakly exited out onto the street.
My intention was to avoid being sick before six lanes of traffic, so I gathered myself and began attempting to stumble toward the green space opposite the street, thinking I could I could at least secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to be sick. But then I must have fainted. I could feel my limbs, but I was unable to walk and my vision was blurry, so I started dragging myself toward my intended destination.
“Everything alright, love?”
Right then, someone picked me up. I sensed an arm around my waist and a man’s voice asked, “Everything alright, love?” I managed to tell the mysterious stranger that I required to be sick. Therefore, he almost carried me into a close-by structure and placed me into the female bathroom. He inquired if I needed him to stay with me but I said no.
After a short while, I regained my composure sufficiently to sit down and from outside the door I heard his voice asking, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I wasn’t able to stand up right away but did manage to thank him and after a few more minutes was able to move my feet. I made my way home passing several days healing from what was later diagnosed as a nasty tummy bug.
I never glimpsed the stranger’s face – just his lower half and the big steelwork tools container he held – but he helped me, at a moment I was at my most vulnerable.
Frequently, society has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that melts away that protective shell. He demonstrated that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, something I love about humanity.
