Feeling So Sick Walking Was Impossible When a Man Practically Supported Me to a Restroom.
Back when I was my late teens, my daily commute meant taking an packed public transport. The vehicle was always crowded and invariably became without any seats once I stepped aboard.
On one specific day, I began feeling quite nauseous when the coach rocked around every turn. I kept telling myself to persevere another few kilometres so the bus could reached where I needed to get off, so I could then sprint quickly for the nearest public toilet to throw up.
We were coming down the road leading to my stop and I realised I wasn’t going to hold on. All of a sudden, it was like a fog descended upon me. The world became blank and silent; similar to when one muted everything. I said to myself, “I will lose consciousness”.
Thankfully, I was positioned near the front inside the vehicle, so I took a few steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to open the doors, telling him I needed to vomit. He promptly opened the entrance and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.
I was determined not to vomit before six lanes of traffic, so I gathered myself and endeavored to make my way to the park opposite the street, where I believed I could at least secretly conceal myself behind a bush to throw up. However I must have blacked out. I sensed my body but I was unable to walk and my vision was blurry, so I began inching my way to the grassy area.
“You right, love?”
In that instant, I got scooped up. I felt an arm around my waist and heard a man say, “You right, love?” I managed to tell the unknown man that I required to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically carried me over to a nearby building and guided me inside the women’s restroom. He asked me whether I required him to remain with me but I declined.
A few minutes later, I regained my composure to the point of sitting on the toilet and from outside the door I heard him ask, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I wasn’t able to rise at that moment but did manage to express my gratitude and after a few more minutes was able to move my limbs. I got myself home passing several days healing from what was later diagnosed as a severe stomach virus.
I never saw his features – just his lower half and the big container for tools he had with him – but he helped me, when I was at my most vulnerable.
Often this world has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that melts away that protective shell. He was proof that humanity’s innate tendency leans toward compassion, a trait I cherish about my fellow humans.
