In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk As a Stranger Virtually Carried Me to a Bathroom.
Back when I was my late teens, my daily commute involved an crowded coach. It was perpetually crowded and invariably became completely full once I stepped aboard.
During a certain commute, I started experiencing quite nauseous when the coach rocked around the bends. I repeatedly told myself to hold on for a few more stops until the bus arrived at my stop, and then I could rush hurriedly for the nearest washroom to be sick.
We were coming down the avenue close to my stop and I realised I was unable to last. In an instant, it seemed a veil came over me. The world became hazy and muffled; as if someone turned off the audio. My mind raced, “I’m going to faint”.
Luckily I was toward the front on the bus, allowing me to take several steps to ask the driver and asked the driver to stop, explaining to him that I was about to get ill. He promptly opened the entrance and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.
My intention was to avoid being sick in view of six lanes of traffic, so I gathered myself and started trying to make my way toward the green space on the other side, thinking I could I could at least secretly conceal myself near some foliage to throw up. Yet I apparently lost consciousness. I was aware of my body but I couldn’t walk or see clearly, so I began crawling towards my intended destination.
“You right, love?”
Right then, I was lifted up. I felt an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I explained to this mysterious stranger that I had to to vomit. So he virtually helped me walk over to an adjacent building and guided me inside the women’s restroom. He asked me if I needed him to wait for me but I declined.
Not long after, I felt better to the point of sitting on the toilet when from beyond the stall I heard him ask, “Do you need anything, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to stand up right away but did manage to say thank you and shortly thereafter recovered the use of my feet. I got myself home and then spent the next few days getting over what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.
I never glimpsed that man’s face – merely his legs and a large container for tools he had with him – yet he rescued me, during a time when I was in my weakest state.
Many times, life can make you guarded, hostile, and combative. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that hardening of the heart. He demonstrated that people’s natural inclination is to be kind, a trait I cherish about my fellow humans.
