I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible Until a Fellow Passenger Practically Supported Me to a Bathroom.

At the age of nineteenth year, my morning travel involved an packed public transport. It was perpetually crowded and invariably became standing room only once I stepped aboard.

During a certain commute, I began feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle rocked around every turn. I kept telling myself to hold on another few kilometres before the bus got to my destination, at which point I could sprint quickly to the closest public toilet to throw up.

The bus was approaching the avenue close to the destination as I understood I would not be to last. All of a sudden, it felt as if a veil came over me. My vision turned hazy and muffled; as if someone cut the sound. My mind raced, “I am about to pass out”.

Fortunately, I stood near the front of the bus, so I managed several steps forward and told the operator to pull over, explaining to him I needed to vomit. He promptly opened the entrance and I hurriedly stepped onto the sidewalk.

I was determined not to vomit in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and began attempting to stumble across to the park across the road, where I believed I’d at least be able to secretly conceal myself behind a bush to throw up. Yet I apparently blacked out. I could feel my limbs, but I couldn’t walk or see properly, leading me to start crawling towards the grassy area.

“Are you okay, dear?”

In that instant, someone picked me up. There was a strong arm supporting me and heard a man say, “You right, love?” I managed to tell the unknown man that I had to to vomit. So he virtually carried me into an adjacent building and placed me into the female bathroom. He wanted to know if I wanted him to stay with me but I said no.

After a short while, I felt better enough to sit on the restroom floor and from outside the door came him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Can I get you something?” I was incapable to rise just then but did manage to thank him and shortly thereafter was able to move my limbs. I returned home and then spent the following days getting over what was later diagnosed as a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I never glimpsed his features – only his legs and a large steelwork tools container he was carrying – but he saved me, at a moment I was in my weakest state.

Many times, life tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that melts away that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency is to be kind, something I love about my fellow humans.