Feeling So Sick I Couldn’t Walk When a Man Practically Supported Me to a Bathroom.

During my my late teens, my daily commute meant taking an packed public transport. The vehicle was always crowded and would always be without any seats when I got on.

During a certain commute, I began feeling incredibly sick as the bus lurched around each corner. I continuously reassured myself to endure for a few more stops until the bus arrived at where I needed to get off, and then I could make a mad dash to the closest washroom to be sick.

We were coming down the road leading to my stop and I understood I would not be to last. In an instant, it felt as if a fog descended upon me. The world became blank and silent; like someone had muted everything. I said to myself, “I will lose consciousness”.

Luckily I was near the front inside the vehicle, so I took several steps to ask the driver and asked the driver to pull over, explaining to him that I was about to be sick. He promptly opened the entrance and I hurriedly stepped onto the sidewalk.

I was resolved to not get sick in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I gathered myself and began attempting to make my way to the park across the road, thinking I could it would allow me to find some privacy behind a bush to vomit. But then I must have fainted. I was aware of my physical self, yet walking was impossible and my vision was blurry, leading me to start dragging myself toward the park.

“You right, love?”

At that moment, someone picked me up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and heard a man say, “You right, love?” I explained to this mysterious stranger that I had to to be sick. Therefore, he almost carried me into an adjacent building and placed me inside the women’s restroom. He inquired whether I required him to wait for me but I said no.

Not long after, I felt better enough to sit on the toilet when from beyond the door I heard his voice asking, “Are you feeling better, dear? Can I get you something?” I was incapable to rise just then but I did succeed to say thank you and shortly thereafter regained the function of my limbs. I got myself home and then spent the following days healing from what was later diagnosed as a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I did not see his features – only his legs and the big container for tools he had with him – but he saved me, during a time when I was in my weakest state.

Often this world has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that protective shell. He served as evidence that our default setting leans toward compassion, a quality I adore about humanity.