Feeling So Sick Walking Was Impossible When a Man Virtually Carried Me to the Toilets.
During my nineteenth year, my daily commute was on an packed public transport. It remained jammed and invariably became completely full once I boarded.
On one specific day, I was feeling quite nauseous when the coach swayed around each corner. I continuously reassured myself to persevere just a little longer until the bus arrived at my stop, so I could then sprint quickly to the closest washroom to be sick.
We were coming down the street towards the stop when I understood I would not be to last. Suddenly, it was like a fog descended upon me. The world became hazy and muffled; similar to when one muted everything. I thought, “I will lose consciousness”.
Fortunately, I stood toward the front on the bus, allowing me to take several steps to ask the driver and told the operator to pull over, telling him I was going to be sick. The driver opened the bus doors and I hurriedly stepped on to the pavement.
My intention was to avoid being sick before a busy multi-lane road, so I picked myself up and started trying to walk toward the green space across the road, thinking I could I could at least find some privacy behind a bush to vomit. Yet I must have lost consciousness. I sensed my body but walking was impossible or see clearly, leading me to start crawling towards the park.
“You right, love?”
In that instant, I was lifted up. I sensed someone holding me and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I explained to this unknown man that I needed to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically helped me walk down into a close-by structure and put me into the female bathroom. He asked me if I wanted him to remain with me but I declined.
Not long after, I regained my composure to the point of sitting on the toilet when from beyond the door I heard his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I wasn’t able to get up at that moment but I was able to say thank you and after a few more minutes recovered the use of my legs. I made my way home and then spent the following days getting over which was a severe stomach virus.
I never glimpsed that man’s face – just his lower half and the big metal toolbox he held – yet he rescued 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 melts away that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination is to be kind, something I love about humanity.