In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to a Bathroom.

At the age of my late teens, my daily commute was on an crowded coach. It was perpetually jammed and invariably became without any seats once I stepped aboard.

One particular morning, I was feeling terribly ill when the coach rocked around each corner. I kept telling myself to persevere for a few more stops so the bus could got to my destination, at which point I could sprint quickly for the nearest public toilet to be sick.

We were coming down the street towards the destination as it dawned on me I wasn’t going to make it. All of a sudden, it felt as if a veil came over me. Everything just went white and really quiet; similar to when one cut the sound. I said to myself, “I am about to pass out”.

Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver of the bus, so I took a couple of steps toward the driver and asked the driver to open the doors, explaining to him I needed to get ill. The driver opened the doors and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.

I was determined to avoid being sick in front of six lanes of traffic, so I picked myself up and started trying to walk toward the green space across the road, where I thought I’d at least be able to find some privacy among some shrubs to vomit. Yet I must have lost consciousness. I could feel my body but walking was impossible or see properly, so I began dragging myself toward my intended destination.

“Are you okay, dear?”

At that moment, I was lifted up. There was an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “Everything alright, love?” I told this kind passerby that I needed to get to a bathroom. So he virtually carried me over to a nearby building and placed me into the female bathroom. He inquired if I wanted him to wait for me but I declined.

A few minutes later, I had recovered enough to sit on the toilet and from outside the stall I heard him ask, “Do you need anything, love? Is there anything you require?” I could not to stand up at that moment but did manage to thank him and shortly thereafter recovered the use of my feet. I returned home passing several days getting over what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.

I never glimpsed the stranger’s face – merely his legs and a large steelwork tools container he was carrying – but he saved me, when I was in my weakest state.

Frequently, society tends to make people guarded, hostile, and combative. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that our default setting leans toward compassion, a trait I cherish about humanity.