In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.
Back when I was 19 years old, my morning travel involved an packed public transport. It was perpetually crowded and would always be standing room only when I boarded.
During a certain commute, I started experiencing quite nauseous while the vehicle lurched around the bends. I continuously reassured myself to persevere just a little longer before the bus arrived at my stop, so I could then sprint quickly toward the most convenient public restroom to be sick.
As we neared the street towards my stop and I realised I wasn’t going to hold on. Suddenly, it was like a fog descended upon me. The world became white and really quiet; like someone had turned off the audio. I thought, “I am about to pass out”.
Luckily I was toward the front inside the vehicle, so I took a couple of steps forward and requested that the driver to open the doors, telling him that I was about to get ill. The driver opened the entrance and I weakly exited on to the pavement.
I was determined to avoid being sick before six lanes of traffic, so I forced myself up and began attempting to make my way to the park across the road, thinking I could it would allow me to secretly conceal myself near some foliage to vomit. But then I apparently lost consciousness. I sensed my body but I was unable to walk or see clearly, leading me to start crawling towards my intended destination.
“Everything alright, love?”
Right then, someone picked me up. I sensed someone holding me and a man’s voice asked, “Are you okay, dear?” I explained to this kind passerby that I required to get to a bathroom. 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 stay with me but I said no.
After a short while, I felt better enough to sit down 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 get up just then but did manage to thank him and after a few more minutes recovered the use of my limbs. I returned home passing several days recovering from what turned out to be a horrible case of gastroenteritis.
I never glimpsed his features – just his lower half and a large container for tools he had with him – yet he rescued me, at a moment I was in my weakest state.
Frequently, society can make you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, a trait I cherish in other people.