I Was So Ill I Couldn’t Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Virtually Carried Me to the Toilets.

Back when I was nineteenth year, my daily commute involved an crowded coach. The vehicle was always crowded and invariably became without any seats once I stepped aboard.

On one specific day, I began feeling incredibly sick as the bus swayed around each corner. I kept telling myself to hold on another few kilometres so the bus could reached my destination, at which point I could sprint quickly for the nearest public toilet to throw up.

We were coming down the street towards my stop and I realised I was unable to last. All of a sudden, it seemed a fog descended upon me. The world became hazy and muffled; similar to when one muted everything. I thought, “I am about to pass out”.

Fortunately, I stood near the front of the bus, so I took a couple of steps to ask the driver and requested that the driver to pull over, explaining to him I needed to get ill. He opened the entrance and I hurriedly stepped on to the pavement.

I was determined to not get sick in front of a busy multi-lane road, so I forced myself up and endeavored to walk toward the green space opposite the street, where I believed I could at least find some privacy among some shrubs to be sick. But then I likely lost consciousness. I could feel my body but I couldn’t walk and my vision was blurry, leading me to start crawling towards my intended destination.

“Everything alright, love?”

In that instant, I got scooped up. There was an arm around my waist and heard a man say, “You right, love?” I explained to this mysterious stranger that I had to to be sick. Therefore, he almost carried me down into a close-by structure and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I needed 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 when from beyond the door I heard him inquire, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I wasn’t able to stand up just then but I was able to thank him and shortly thereafter was able to move my feet. I made my way home and spent the next few days getting over what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.

I never glimpsed the stranger’s face – only his legs and the big steelwork tools container he held – but he helped me, when I was completely helpless.

Often this world can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that melts away that protective shell. He served as evidence that our default setting is towards kindness, a trait I cherish about humanity.