I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.

Back when I was nineteenth year, my daily commute involved an crowded coach. The vehicle was always jammed and would always be without any seats once I got on.

During a certain commute, I started experiencing quite nauseous as the bus swayed around every turn. I kept telling myself to hold on just a little longer before the bus arrived at my destination, and then I could sprint quickly to the closest washroom to be sick.

As we neared the road leading to the stop when it dawned on me I was unable to hold on. In an instant, it felt as if a curtain fell over me. My vision turned white and really quiet; like someone had cut the sound. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.

Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver inside the vehicle, so I managed a couple of steps forward and told the operator to stop, informing him that I was about to get ill. The driver opened the bus doors and I weakly exited out onto the street.

I was resolved not to vomit in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I gathered myself and began attempting to stumble across to the park on the other side, thinking I could I’d at least be able to find some privacy near some foliage to throw up. However I likely fainted. I was aware of my body but I was unable to walk and my vision was blurry, so I began inching my way to the park.

“Everything alright, love?”

In that instant, someone picked me up. There was 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 carried me down into an adjacent building and placed me in the ladies’ toilets. He asked me whether I required him to remain with me but I said no.

A few minutes later, I regained my composure to the point of sitting down when from beyond the stall I heard him ask, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I was incapable to rise just then but I did succeed to thank him and following a brief period recovered the use of my limbs. I made my way home and spent the following days recovering from which was a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never glimpsed his features – just his lower half along with a sizable steelwork tools container he held – but he saved me, at a moment I was in my weakest state.

Often this world tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that reverses that emotional callousness. He served as evidence that our default setting leans toward compassion, something I love about my fellow humans.