Feeling So Sick I Was Unable to Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.

Back when I was my late teens, my regular journey to work meant taking an crowded coach. It remained full and would always be without any seats once I got on.

On one specific day, I began feeling quite nauseous when the coach swayed around each corner. I kept telling myself to endure for a few more stops until the bus arrived at my destination, at which point I could rush hurriedly toward the most convenient washroom to be sick.

As we neared the road leading to the stop when I realised I would not be to hold on. All of a sudden, it seemed a veil came over me. Everything just went blank and silent; as if someone turned off the audio. I thought, “I’m going to faint”.

Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver of the bus, so I managed a couple of steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to stop, informing him that I was about to get ill. He promptly opened the bus doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.

I was resolved not to vomit before a busy multi-lane road, so I picked myself up and started trying to walk toward the green space across the road, where I believed I’d at least be able to find some privacy among some shrubs to throw up. But then I likely lost consciousness. I could feel my limbs, but I couldn’t walk or see properly, leading me to start inching my way to my intended destination.

“You right, love?”

At that moment, I got scooped up. I felt someone holding me and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I explained to this mysterious stranger that I had to to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically helped me walk over to an adjacent building and placed me into the female bathroom. He asked me if I wanted him to remain with me but I declined.

Not long after, I regained my composure to the point of sitting down and from outside the door I heard his voice asking, “Do you need anything, love? Do you need anything?” I was incapable to get up right away but I did succeed to say thank you and following a brief period recovered the use of my legs. I made my way home passing several days healing from what was later diagnosed as a severe stomach virus.

I did not see that man’s face – only his legs along with a sizable container for tools he had with him – but he saved me, when I was completely helpless.

Many times, life can make you guarded, hostile, and combative. What he did was the kind of action that undoes that protective shell. He served as evidence that our default setting is to be kind, a trait I cherish about my fellow humans.