I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible When a Man Practically Supported Me to a Restroom.

Back when I was my late teens, my regular journey to work involved an crowded coach. The vehicle was always jammed and invariably became completely full when I stepped aboard.

On one specific day, I started experiencing terribly ill as the bus swayed around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to persevere just a little longer before the bus arrived at my stop, so I could then make a mad dash for the nearest washroom to throw up.

The bus was approaching the street towards my stop and it dawned on me I wasn’t going to make it. In an instant, it seemed a fog descended upon me. The world became blank and silent; as if someone muted everything. I said to myself, “I am about to pass out”.

Thankfully, I was positioned toward the front of the bus, allowing me to take a few steps forward and requested that the driver to pull over, informing him that I was about to get ill. The driver opened the entrance and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.

I was resolved not to vomit in front of a busy multi-lane road, so I gathered myself and started trying to make my way toward the green space on the other side, thinking I could I could at least discreetly hide behind a bush to vomit. Yet I apparently blacked out. I was aware of my body but walking was impossible or see clearly, so I started crawling towards the park.

“Everything alright, love?”

At that moment, I was lifted up. There was an arm around my waist and heard a man say, “Are you okay, dear?” I told this mysterious stranger that I required to get to a bathroom. So he virtually supported my weight over to an adjacent building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I needed him to remain with me but I said no.

After a short while, I felt better to the point of sitting on the restroom floor and from the other side of the door came him ask, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I was incapable to get up right away but did manage to say thank you and shortly thereafter was able to move my feet. I got myself home and spent the next few days recovering from what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.

I did not see the stranger’s face – just his lower half and a large steelwork tools container he had with him – but he helped me, when I was at my most vulnerable.

Many times, life can make you guarded, hostile, and combative. His act was the type of kindness that melts away that hardening of the heart. He demonstrated that our default setting is to be kind, something I love about my fellow humans.