In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.

At the age of nineteenth year, my morning travel was on an crowded coach. It was perpetually jammed and would always be completely full when I boarded.

On one specific day, I was feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle lurched around every turn. I kept telling myself to persevere for a few more stops before the bus got to where I needed to get off, and then I could sprint quickly for the nearest public restroom to throw up.

The bus was approaching the road leading to my stop and I understood I wasn’t going to hold on. In an instant, it felt as if a veil came over me. The world became blank and silent; like someone had muted everything. My mind raced, “I’m going to faint”.

Thankfully, I was positioned near the front on the bus, so I managed a couple of steps forward and requested that the driver to pull over, informing him I was going to get ill. He promptly opened the entrance and I hurriedly stepped on to the pavement.

I was determined to not get sick before multiple lanes of cars, so I forced myself up and endeavored to walk toward the green space opposite the street, where I thought it would allow me to discreetly hide among some shrubs to throw up. But then I likely lost consciousness. I could feel my physical self, yet I was unable to walk and my vision was blurry, leading me to start inching my way to my intended destination.

“You right, love?”

In that instant, I was lifted up. I sensed an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “Everything alright, love?” I managed to tell the mysterious stranger that I required to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically helped me walk down into a nearby building and placed me inside the women’s restroom. He wanted to know if I needed him to stay with me but I refused.

Not long after, I had recovered to the point of sitting on the toilet and from outside the stall I heard his voice asking, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I was incapable 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 the following days getting over which was a severe stomach virus.

I never glimpsed the stranger’s face – just his lower half along with a sizable container for tools he held – but he saved me, at a moment I was at my most vulnerable.

Many times, life tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that protective shell. He was proof that people’s natural inclination is to be kind, something I love about my fellow humans.