In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.
Back when I was 19 years old, my regular journey to work was on an packed public transport. It was perpetually crowded and was consistently standing room only when I stepped aboard.
During a certain commute, I began feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle swayed around the bends. I kept telling myself to endure for a few more stops before the bus arrived at my stop, and then I could sprint quickly toward the most convenient public toilet to be sick.
The bus was approaching the road leading to my stop and I realised I was unable to last. Suddenly, it felt as if a curtain fell over me. Everything just went hazy and muffled; like someone had cut the sound. My mind raced, “I am about to pass out”.
Luckily I was near the front on the bus, so I took several steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to open the doors, telling him I needed to vomit. He opened the bus doors and I hurriedly stepped onto the sidewalk.
I was resolved to avoid being sick in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I forced myself up and started trying to stumble across to the park across the road, thinking I could I could at least secretly conceal myself behind a bush to be sick. However I likely lost consciousness. I could feel my limbs, but walking was impossible and my vision was blurry, so I began inching my way to the grassy area.
“You right, love?”
At that moment, someone picked me up. There was someone holding me and heard a man say, “You right, love?” I explained to this kind passerby that I needed to be sick. Therefore, he almost carried me into a nearby building and put me into the female bathroom. He asked me if I needed him to wait for me but I refused.
After a short while, I regained my composure enough to sit on the restroom floor and from the other side of the stall I heard his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to stand up just then but I was able to express my gratitude and shortly thereafter was able to move my limbs. I got myself home and then spent the next few days healing from what turned out to be a nasty tummy bug.
I never glimpsed his features – just his lower half and a large container for tools he had with him – but he helped me, during a time when I was in my weakest state.
Many times, life tends to make people guarded, hostile, and combative. His act was the type of kindness that melts away that emotional callousness. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency is towards kindness, a trait I cherish about humanity.
