Feeling So Sick Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.

During my my late teens, my daily commute involved an packed public transport. It was perpetually crowded and invariably became completely full once I stepped aboard.

During a certain commute, I started experiencing quite nauseous as the bus rocked around each corner. I continuously reassured myself to persevere just a little longer until the bus reached my stop, so I could then sprint quickly toward the most convenient public toilet to vomit.

As we neared the road leading to the stop when I realised I wasn’t going to hold on. All of a sudden, it seemed a curtain fell over me. My vision turned white and really quiet; like someone had turned off the audio. My mind raced, “I’m going to faint”.

Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver of the bus, allowing me to take a few steps to ask the driver and requested that the driver to pull over, explaining to him that I was about to vomit. He opened the doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.

I was resolved not to vomit in view of six lanes of traffic, so I forced myself up and endeavored to walk across to the park on the other side, where I believed I could at least find some privacy among some shrubs to throw up. However I apparently blacked out. I could feel my physical self, yet walking was impossible and my vision was blurry, leading me to start dragging myself toward my intended destination.

“Everything alright, love?”

At that moment, I got scooped up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a man’s voice asked, “Everything alright, love?” I explained to this kind passerby that I needed to get to a bathroom. Therefore, he almost helped me walk down into an adjacent building and put me into the female bathroom. He wanted to know whether I required him to stay with me but I declined.

Not long after, I regained my composure enough to sit on the toilet and from the other side of the stall I heard his voice asking, “Do you need anything, love? Is there anything you require?” I wasn’t able to rise at that moment but I was able to say thank you and after a few more minutes regained the function of my legs. I got myself home passing several days getting over what was later diagnosed as a severe stomach virus.

I did not see his features – only his legs along with a sizable metal toolbox he had with him – but he helped me, during a time 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 reverses that protective shell. He was proof that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, something I love about humanity.