I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.

Back when I was 19 years old, my daily commute meant taking an crowded coach. It remained full and was consistently standing room only by the time I stepped aboard.

During a certain commute, I was feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle rocked around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to persevere another few kilometres so the bus could got to my stop, and then I could sprint quickly toward the most convenient public toilet to be sick.

As we neared the avenue close to my stop and I understood I wasn’t going to hold on. In an instant, it was like a fog descended upon me. My vision turned blank and silent; as if someone turned off the audio. I said to myself, “I will lose consciousness”.

Fortunately, I stood near the front of the bus, allowing me to take a few steps toward the driver and asked the driver to open the doors, informing him that I was about to get ill. The driver opened the entrance and I hurriedly stepped on to the pavement.

I was determined not to vomit before multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and endeavored to stumble to the park on the other side, thinking I could it would allow me to secretly conceal myself near some foliage to throw up. However I likely fainted. I sensed my physical self, yet I couldn’t walk and my vision was blurry, so I started crawling towards the grassy area.

“You right, love?”

In that instant, someone picked me up. I sensed a strong arm supporting me and a stranger inquired, “Everything alright, love?” I explained to this kind passerby that I required to get to a bathroom. So he virtually supported my weight over to a close-by structure and placed me into the female bathroom. He wanted to know whether I required him to remain with me but I declined.

Not long after, I regained my composure enough to sit on the toilet when from beyond the door came him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Can I get you something?” I wasn’t able to stand up right away but did manage to say thank you and following a brief period recovered the use of my legs. I made my way home and then spent several days healing from what was later diagnosed as a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I did not see his features – only his legs along with a sizable metal toolbox he held – but he helped me, during a time when I was at my most vulnerable.

Many times, life tends to make people self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that emotional callousness. He served as evidence that our default setting is towards kindness, something I love about humanity.