In Such Poor Health Walking Was Impossible When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to the Toilets.

Back when I was 19 years old, my regular journey to work was on an express bus. It remained jammed and invariably became without any seats once I stepped aboard.

During a certain commute, I was feeling terribly ill as the bus lurched around each corner. I kept telling myself to persevere for a few more stops before the bus arrived at where I needed to get off, and then I could sprint quickly for the nearest public restroom to vomit.

The bus was approaching the road leading to the stop when I realised I would not be to hold on. All of a sudden, it was like a fog descended upon me. My vision turned white and really quiet; similar to when one turned off the audio. My mind raced, “I am about to pass out”.

Luckily I was toward the front of the bus, so I managed several steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to open the doors, telling him that I was about to get ill. The driver opened the doors and I stumbled out on to the pavement.

My intention was to not get sick before six lanes of traffic, so I forced myself up and started trying to stumble to the park on the other side, where I thought I could at least discreetly hide behind a bush to throw up. However I likely fainted. I sensed my limbs, but I couldn’t walk or see clearly, so I began dragging myself toward the grassy area.

“Everything alright, love?”

In that instant, someone picked me up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and heard a man say, “You right, love?” I explained to this unknown man that I needed to be sick. Thus, he practically helped me walk down into a nearby building and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I needed him to stay with me but I said no.

After a short while, I had recovered sufficiently to sit down and from the other side of the door I heard him ask, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to stand up at that moment but did manage to say thank you and shortly thereafter was able to move my limbs. I made my way home and spent the next few days healing from what turned out to be a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I did not see his features – only his legs and a large steelwork tools container he had with him – yet he rescued me, when I was completely helpless.

Many times, life tends to make people self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that hardening of the heart. He demonstrated that humanity’s innate tendency is towards kindness, a quality I adore in other people.