In Such Poor Health Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.

Back when I was nineteenth year, my morning travel was on an packed public transport. The vehicle was always full and would always be without any seats when I got on.

During a certain commute, I started experiencing quite nauseous while the vehicle rocked around the bends. I kept telling myself to endure another few kilometres so the bus could arrived at where I needed to get off, at which point I could rush hurriedly for the nearest public toilet to vomit.

We were coming down the street towards the destination as I realised I wasn’t going to last. In an instant, it was like a fog descended upon me. The world became white and really quiet; as if someone muted everything. My mind raced, “I will lose consciousness”.

Fortunately, I stood toward the front of the bus, so I managed a few steps toward the driver and told the operator to pull over, explaining to him I was going to get ill. He promptly opened the bus doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.

I was determined to avoid being sick in front of a busy multi-lane road, so I gathered myself and endeavored to walk to the park across the road, where I thought I’d at least be able to discreetly hide among some shrubs to vomit. Yet I must have fainted. I sensed my physical self, yet walking was impossible or see properly, so I started inching my way to my intended destination.

“You right, love?”

At that moment, I was lifted up. I sensed an arm around my waist and heard a man say, “Everything alright, love?” I managed to tell the mysterious stranger that I required to get to a bathroom. So he virtually carried me into an adjacent building and placed me into the female bathroom. He asked me if I wanted him to stay with me but I refused.

After a short while, I had recovered enough to sit on the restroom floor and from outside the stall I heard his voice asking, “Do you need anything, love? Can I get you something?” I wasn’t able to rise at that moment but I did succeed to say thank you and after a few more minutes recovered the use of my legs. I got myself home and then spent several days getting over which was a severe stomach virus.

I never saw that man’s face – only his legs and the big container for tools he held – yet he rescued me, when I was at my most vulnerable.

Many times, life can make you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that protective shell. He served as evidence that our default setting is to be kind, a trait I cherish in other people.