In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Virtually Carried Me to a Bathroom.
At the age of nineteenth year, my daily commute meant taking an crowded coach. The vehicle was always jammed and invariably became completely full when I boarded.
On one specific day, I was feeling incredibly sick when the coach swayed around the bends. I kept telling myself to endure another few kilometres until the bus reached my stop, at which point I could rush hurriedly toward the most convenient public restroom to vomit.
As we neared the street towards my stop and I realised I wasn’t going to last. All of a sudden, it was like a veil came over me. The world became blank and silent; as if someone muted everything. I thought, “I am about to pass out”.
Luckily I was toward the front inside the vehicle, allowing me to take several steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to stop, informing him I needed to be sick. He promptly opened the doors and I weakly exited out onto the street.
I was resolved to avoid being sick before six lanes of traffic, so I picked myself up and started trying to walk toward the green space across the road, where I thought I could at least find some privacy near some foliage to be sick. But then I likely fainted. I could feel my limbs, but I was unable to walk or see properly, so I started dragging myself toward my intended destination.
“You right, love?”
At that moment, someone picked me up. I sensed an arm around my waist and a man’s voice asked, “Are you okay, dear?” I managed to tell the unknown man that I required to vomit. Thus, he practically helped me walk into a nearby building and guided me into the female bathroom. He asked me whether I required him to stay with me but I declined.
A few minutes later, I felt better sufficiently to sit down and from the other side of the door I heard his voice asking, “Do you need anything, love? Can I get you something?” I was incapable to rise right away but I was able to say thank you and after a few more minutes was able to move my feet. I made my way home and then spent the next few days getting over which was a severe stomach virus.
I never glimpsed that man’s face – merely his legs along with a sizable metal toolbox he had with him – but he helped me, when I was completely helpless.
Often this world can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that undoes that protective shell. He served as evidence that our default setting is to be kind, a quality I adore in other people.