In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Virtually Carried Me to a Restroom.

Back when I was my late teens, my regular journey to work was on an packed public transport. It was perpetually jammed and was consistently standing room only by the time I got on.

One particular morning, I was feeling terribly ill as the bus swayed around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to persevere another few kilometres before the bus got to my stop, and then I could make a mad dash toward the most convenient public restroom to vomit.

As we neared the street towards the destination as it dawned on me I would not be to hold on. Suddenly, it felt as if a fog descended upon me. My vision turned hazy and muffled; similar to when one turned off the audio. I said to myself, “I am about to pass out”.

Fortunately, I stood near the front on the bus, allowing me to take several steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to stop, explaining to him I needed to get ill. The driver opened the entrance and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.

I was determined to avoid being sick in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I picked myself up and began attempting to make my way toward the green space on the other side, where I believed it would allow me to discreetly hide near some foliage to throw up. Yet I must have lost consciousness. I was aware of my limbs, but I was unable to walk or see properly, leading me to start crawling towards the grassy area.

“Are you okay, dear?”

At that moment, I got scooped up. I sensed a strong arm supporting me and a man’s voice asked, “You right, love?” I explained to this mysterious stranger that I had to to be sick. So he virtually carried me down into a close-by structure and guided me inside the women’s restroom. He asked me whether I required him to wait for me but I said no.

After a short while, I regained my composure to the point of sitting on the restroom floor and from outside the stall I heard him inquire, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I wasn’t able to get up just then but I did succeed to say thank you and shortly thereafter regained the function of my limbs. I got myself home and then spent the following days getting over what turned out to be a nasty tummy bug.

I never glimpsed that man’s face – only his legs and the big container for tools he had with him – but he saved me, at a moment I was completely helpless.

Often this world can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that protective shell. He demonstrated that our default setting leans toward compassion, a quality I adore in other people.