I Was So Ill I Was Unable to Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Virtually Carried Me to the Toilets.

Back when I was 19 years old, my daily commute meant taking an express bus. The vehicle was always full and invariably became standing room only by the time I boarded.

On one specific day, I began feeling incredibly sick as the bus lurched around the bends. I continuously reassured myself to persevere just a little longer before the bus got to where I needed to get off, so I could then rush hurriedly for the nearest washroom to vomit.

As we neared the avenue close to my stop and I understood I was unable to make it. All of a sudden, it was like a fog descended upon me. My vision turned hazy and muffled; like someone had muted everything. I thought, “I will lose consciousness”.

Luckily I was toward the front on the bus, so I took a couple of steps toward the driver and told the operator to open the doors, explaining to him I needed to vomit. He promptly opened the doors and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.

My intention was not to vomit in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I gathered myself and began attempting to stumble toward the green space opposite the street, where I believed it would allow me to discreetly hide near some foliage to throw up. However I must have fainted. I was aware of my body but walking was impossible or see clearly, so I began inching my way to my intended destination.

“You right, love?”

In that instant, I was lifted up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a man’s voice asked, “Are you okay, dear?” I managed to tell the unknown man that I had to to get to a bathroom. Therefore, he almost helped me walk over to a nearby building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He wanted to know if I wanted him to wait for me but I declined.

After a short while, I felt better sufficiently to sit on the toilet and from the other side of the door I heard him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I could not to rise just then but I was able to thank him and following a brief period recovered the use of my legs. I returned home and spent the next few days healing from what was later diagnosed as a severe stomach virus.

I never saw his features – merely his legs along with a sizable steelwork tools container he was carrying – but he helped me, during a time when I was in my weakest state.

Frequently, society tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that undoes that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, something I love about humanity.