Feeling So Sick I Couldn’t Walk When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.

At the age of 19 years old, my daily commute involved an packed public transport. The vehicle was always crowded and invariably became without any seats when I stepped aboard.

One particular morning, I was feeling incredibly sick when the coach swayed around each corner. I kept telling myself to endure another few kilometres so the bus could got to my destination, and then I could make a mad dash to the closest public toilet to throw up.

We were coming down the street towards the destination as I understood I was unable to last. All of a sudden, it felt as if a veil came over me. My vision turned blank and silent; similar to when one muted everything. I thought, “I am about to pass out”.

Thankfully, I was positioned near the front inside the vehicle, allowing me to take several steps toward the driver and told the operator to stop, explaining to him that I was about to vomit. The driver opened the entrance and I stumbled out on to the pavement.

I was determined to not get sick in front of six lanes of traffic, so I gathered myself and started trying to stumble toward the green space on the other side, where I believed it would allow me to find some privacy behind a bush to be sick. But then I apparently lost consciousness. I was aware of my limbs, but I was unable to walk and my vision was blurry, so I started inching my way to the grassy area.

“Everything alright, love?”

In that instant, someone picked me up. I sensed someone holding me and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I explained to this mysterious stranger that I required to vomit. So he virtually helped me walk down into an adjacent building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He asked me if I wanted him to stay with me but I refused.

A few minutes later, I regained my composure enough to sit on the toilet and from outside the door I heard him inquire, “Do you need anything, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to rise at that moment but I was able to say thank you and shortly thereafter was able to move my limbs. I got myself home passing the following days recovering from what was later diagnosed as a nasty tummy bug.

I never saw that man’s face – just his lower half and a large steelwork tools container he held – but he helped me, when I was completely helpless.

Frequently, society can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that reverses that hardening of the heart. He demonstrated that our default setting is towards kindness, a quality I adore about my fellow humans.