I Was So Ill I Couldn’t Walk When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to a Bathroom.
Back when I was 19 years old, my regular journey to work was on an packed public transport. It remained jammed and would always be without any seats when I got on.
During a certain commute, I began feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle swayed around each corner. I repeatedly told myself to endure another few kilometres until the bus got to where I needed to get off, at which point I could make a mad dash toward the most convenient public toilet to vomit.
As we neared the road leading to the destination as I understood I would not be to hold on. All of a sudden, it seemed a curtain fell over me. My vision turned hazy and muffled; like someone had cut the sound. I thought, “I’m going to faint”.
Luckily I was near the front inside the vehicle, so I managed a couple of steps forward and requested that the driver to open the doors, informing him I was going to get ill. The driver opened the bus doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.
I was resolved not to vomit before multiple lanes of cars, so I gathered myself and began attempting to walk to the park opposite the street, where I thought I could at least discreetly hide near some foliage to throw up. However I apparently lost consciousness. I sensed my body but I couldn’t walk or see properly, so I began crawling towards my intended destination.
“Are you okay, dear?”
Right then, I got scooped up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a stranger inquired, “Everything alright, love?” I explained to this kind passerby that I needed to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically carried me down into a nearby building and guided me into the female bathroom. He asked me whether I required him to remain with me but I refused.
A few minutes later, I regained my composure sufficiently to sit down and from the other side of the door I heard him ask, “Do you need anything, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to stand up just then but I did succeed to say thank you and following a brief period regained the function of my limbs. I got myself home passing the next few days healing from what was later diagnosed as a nasty tummy bug.
I did not see that man’s face – only his legs and a large container for tools he held – but he helped me, during a time when I was completely helpless.
Many times, life can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that undoes that hardening of the heart. He demonstrated that humanity’s innate tendency leans toward compassion, something I love about my fellow humans.
