In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk As a Stranger Virtually Carried Me to a Restroom.

At the age of my late teens, my morning travel involved an packed public transport. The vehicle was always full and invariably became completely full when I stepped aboard.

On one specific day, I was feeling terribly ill while the vehicle swayed around the bends. I repeatedly told myself to hold on for a few more stops so the bus could reached my destination, so I could then rush hurriedly to the closest public toilet to throw up.

As we neared the avenue close to my stop and I realised I would not be to hold on. In an instant, it was like a veil came over me. Everything just went blank and silent; as if someone cut the sound. I thought, “I’m going to faint”.

Fortunately, I stood toward the front of the bus, allowing me to take a few steps forward and requested that the driver to stop, explaining to him that I was about to be sick. He opened the bus doors and I hurriedly stepped out onto the street.

I was determined to avoid being sick in view of multiple lanes of cars, so I forced myself up and started trying to stumble across to the park opposite the street, where I believed I could at least find some privacy among some shrubs to be sick. But then I likely blacked out. I was aware of my limbs, but walking was impossible and my vision was blurry, so I started dragging myself toward my intended destination.

“You right, love?”

At that moment, someone picked me up. There was an arm around my waist and heard a man say, “Everything alright, love?” I explained to this kind passerby that I needed to get to a bathroom. So he virtually carried me down into an adjacent building and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He wanted to know if I wanted him to remain with me but I said no.

After a short while, I had recovered enough to sit on the toilet and from outside the door came him ask, “Do you need anything, love? Can I get you something?” I wasn’t able to rise just then but I did succeed to express my gratitude and after a few more minutes regained the function of my legs. I returned home and then spent the following days healing from what turned out to be a nasty tummy bug.

I never saw that man’s face – only his legs and a large metal toolbox he was carrying – but he helped me, during a time when I was in my weakest state.

Often this world can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that emotional callousness. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, a quality I adore about humanity.