In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Virtually Carried Me to the Toilets.
During my 19 years old, my morning travel meant taking an crowded coach. It remained jammed and invariably became without any seats by the time I got on.
One particular morning, I started experiencing terribly ill as the bus swayed around every turn. I kept telling myself to endure just a little longer before the bus arrived at where I needed to get off, at which point I could rush hurriedly to the closest washroom to throw up.
As we neared the avenue close to the destination as I understood I wasn’t going to make it. All of a sudden, it felt as if a curtain fell over me. Everything just went blank and silent; like someone had turned off the audio. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.
Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver of the bus, so I took a couple of steps forward and requested that the driver to open the doors, informing him I needed to be sick. He opened the doors and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.
I was resolved not to vomit in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I gathered myself and started trying to make my way to the park across the road, thinking I could it would allow me to find some privacy among some shrubs to be sick. However I must have blacked out. I sensed my physical self, yet walking was impossible or see clearly, so I began inching my way to the grassy area.
“Everything alright, love?”
Right then, I was lifted up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a stranger inquired, “You right, love?” I explained to this unknown man that I needed to vomit. Thus, he practically carried me down into an adjacent building and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He asked me if I needed him to wait for me but I declined.
Not long after, I had recovered to the point of sitting on the toilet and from the other side of the stall I heard him inquire, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I was incapable to rise just then but I did succeed to express my gratitude and shortly thereafter regained the function of my legs. I got myself home passing the next few days getting over what was later diagnosed as a severe stomach virus.
I did not see that man’s face – just his lower half and the big container for tools he had with him – but he helped me, when I was completely helpless.
Many times, life can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that reverses that emotional callousness. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, a trait I cherish about humanity.
