I Was So Ill I Was Unable to Walk When a Man Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.

Back when I was 19 years old, my daily commute involved an express bus. It remained crowded and was consistently standing room only once I stepped aboard.

One particular morning, I began feeling incredibly sick when the coach rocked around every turn. I continuously reassured myself to persevere for a few more stops before the bus reached my destination, and then I could sprint quickly toward the most convenient washroom to throw up.

We were coming down the street towards my stop and it dawned on me I was unable to hold on. In an instant, it seemed a veil came over me. The world became white and really quiet; similar to when one turned off the audio. I said to myself, “I am about to pass out”.

Luckily I was toward the front on the bus, allowing me to take several steps forward and asked the driver to open the doors, telling him I needed to get ill. The driver opened the doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.

My intention was to avoid being sick in view of six lanes of traffic, so I gathered myself and started trying to make my way across to the park opposite the street, where I believed I could at least find some privacy behind a bush to throw up. Yet I apparently blacked out. I was aware of my physical self, yet walking was impossible or see properly, so I started inching my way to the grassy area.

“Everything alright, love?”

Right then, I got scooped up. I sensed a strong arm supporting me and heard a man say, “You right, love?” I managed to tell the kind passerby that I needed to vomit. Thus, he practically helped me walk into a close-by structure and guided me inside the women’s restroom. He asked me if I needed him to wait for me but I said no.

Not long after, I regained my composure enough to sit on the toilet and from the other side of the stall I heard his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I wasn’t able to rise right away but did manage to express my gratitude and following a brief period regained the function of my limbs. I returned home passing the next few days healing from which was a severe stomach virus.

I never saw that man’s face – only his legs along with a sizable container for tools he held – but he helped me, when I was completely helpless.

Often this world tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that undoes that protective shell. He demonstrated that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, a quality I adore in other people.