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 morning travel meant taking an express bus. The vehicle was always crowded and would always be completely full when I stepped aboard.

On one specific day, I was feeling quite nauseous while the vehicle lurched around the bends. I kept telling myself to persevere for a few more stops so the bus could arrived at where I needed to get off, so I could then sprint quickly for the nearest washroom to be sick.

The bus was approaching the avenue close to the stop when I understood I would not be to hold on. Suddenly, it seemed a veil came over me. My vision turned blank and silent; as if someone cut the sound. I thought, “I will lose consciousness”.

Luckily I was toward the front of the bus, so I took several steps to ask the driver and told the operator to open the doors, informing him that I was about to vomit. He opened the bus doors and I hurriedly stepped onto the sidewalk.

My intention was to avoid being sick in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I picked myself up and endeavored to stumble to the park on the other side, where I believed it would allow me to secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to vomit. However I must have blacked out. I could feel my body but I was unable to walk or see clearly, leading me to start dragging myself toward my intended destination.

“You right, love?”

In that instant, I got scooped up. There was a strong arm supporting me and a stranger inquired, “Everything alright, love?” I explained to this mysterious stranger that I needed to be sick. Thus, he practically carried me down into a close-by structure and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He wanted to know if I needed him to wait for me but I declined.

Not long after, I had recovered to the point of sitting on the toilet when from beyond the stall I heard him inquire, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I wasn’t able to rise right away but I was able to express my gratitude and shortly thereafter was able to move my limbs. I made my way home passing several days recovering from what was later diagnosed as a nasty tummy bug.

I did not see the stranger’s face – only his legs along with a sizable metal toolbox he held – but he helped me, when I was in my weakest state.

Often this world has a way of making you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that emotional callousness. He demonstrated that people’s natural inclination is to be kind, a quality I adore in other people.