Feeling So Sick Walking Was Impossible Until a Fellow Passenger Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.

During my my late teens, my regular journey to work meant taking an express bus. It remained crowded and was consistently standing room only once I boarded.

On one specific day, I was feeling quite nauseous while the vehicle rocked around each corner. I repeatedly told myself to endure another few kilometres before the bus reached my stop, so I could then make a mad dash toward the most convenient washroom to vomit.

The bus was approaching the avenue close to the destination as I realised I was unable to make it. Suddenly, it seemed a fog descended upon me. My vision turned blank and silent; similar to when one cut the sound. I thought, “I’m going to faint”.

Thankfully, I was positioned toward the front on the bus, so I managed a few steps forward and told the operator to stop, explaining to him that I was about to get ill. He opened the doors and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.

I was resolved not to vomit before multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and endeavored to walk toward the green space on the other side, thinking I could it would allow me to secretly conceal myself behind a bush to vomit. However I likely lost consciousness. I was aware of my body but walking was impossible or see properly, so I started inching my way to the park.

“You right, love?”

At that moment, someone picked me up. I felt an arm around my waist and heard a man say, “You right, love?” I managed to tell the unknown man that I needed to vomit. Therefore, he almost carried me into a nearby building and placed me inside the women’s restroom. He asked me if I needed him to remain with me but I declined.

Not long after, I felt better sufficiently to sit on the restroom floor when from beyond the stall I heard his voice asking, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I was incapable to get up just then but I was able to say thank you and after a few more minutes regained the function of my limbs. I made my way home and then spent the next few days getting over what was later diagnosed as a severe stomach virus.

I never saw that man’s face – just his lower half and a large steelwork tools container he had with him – but he helped me, when I was completely helpless.

Many times, life has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that emotional callousness. He demonstrated that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, something I love about my fellow humans.