In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Virtually Carried Me to a Bathroom.

Back when I was nineteenth year, my daily commute was on an express bus. It remained crowded and would always be standing room only by the time I got on.

On one specific day, I started experiencing quite nauseous as the bus rocked around the bends. I continuously reassured myself to endure for a few more stops so the bus could reached my destination, at which point I could sprint quickly to the closest public toilet to be sick.

The bus was approaching the street towards the destination as it dawned on me I was unable to make it. Suddenly, it felt as if a curtain fell over me. The world became hazy and muffled; similar to when one cut the sound. My mind raced, “I’m going to faint”.

Fortunately, I stood close to the driver of the bus, allowing me to take a couple of steps toward the driver and told the operator to open the doors, informing him I was going to be sick. The driver opened the doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.

My intention was not to vomit in view of multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and started trying to walk to the park across the road, where I believed I’d at least be able to discreetly hide near some foliage to be sick. However I must have fainted. I could feel my body but I couldn’t walk or see clearly, so I started dragging myself toward the park.

“You right, love?”

In that instant, someone picked me up. I sensed someone holding me and a man’s voice asked, “You right, love?” I explained to this mysterious stranger that I had to to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically supported my weight over to a close-by structure and placed me inside the women’s restroom. He wanted to know if I needed him to stay with me but I said no.

After a short while, I felt better to the point of sitting on the restroom floor and from outside the door came his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I was incapable to get up 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 and spent several days recovering from what was later diagnosed as a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never saw his features – merely his legs along with a sizable steelwork tools container he had with him – but he helped me, at a moment 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 emotional callousness. He was proof that our default setting is towards kindness, a trait I cherish in other people.