I Was So Ill I Was Unable to Walk As a Stranger Practically Supported Me to a Bathroom.

Back when I was 19 years old, my morning travel was on an express bus. It remained jammed and would always be completely full by the time I stepped aboard.

One particular morning, I began feeling terribly ill when the coach rocked around the bends. I kept telling myself to hold on another few kilometres until the bus arrived at where I needed to get off, so I could then rush hurriedly to the closest public toilet to vomit.

The bus was approaching the avenue close to the stop when I realised I was unable to last. All of a sudden, it seemed a curtain fell over me. My vision turned white and really quiet; similar to when one turned off the audio. My mind raced, “I will lose consciousness”.

Thankfully, I was positioned near the front of the bus, so I managed a few steps toward the driver and asked the driver to pull over, telling him that I was about to get ill. The driver opened the bus doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.

I was resolved to not get sick before six lanes of traffic, so I picked myself up and started trying to make my way toward the green space across the road, where I thought it would allow me to secretly conceal myself near some foliage to be sick. Yet I must have lost consciousness. I was aware of my body but walking was impossible or see properly, so I started inching my way to the park.

“Everything alright, love?”

In that instant, I was lifted up. I sensed an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “You right, love?” I told this mysterious stranger that I required to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically supported my weight into a nearby building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I wanted him to remain with me but I said no.

Not long after, I felt better enough to sit on the restroom floor and from the other side of the door came his voice asking, “Are you feeling better, dear? Is there anything you require?” I was incapable to stand up just then but I did succeed to thank him and after a few more minutes was able to move my feet. I made my way home passing the next few days healing from what was later diagnosed as a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I did not see the stranger’s face – just his lower half and the big steelwork tools container he was carrying – but he saved me, when I was in my weakest state.

Many times, life has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination is to be kind, a quality I adore about my fellow humans.