In Such Poor Health Walking Was Impossible As a Stranger Practically Supported Me to a Restroom.

At the age of 19 years old, my daily commute involved an express bus. It remained crowded and invariably became standing room only when I boarded.

One particular morning, I was feeling quite nauseous as the bus swayed around the bends. I repeatedly told myself to hold on another few kilometres so the bus could got to my destination, and then I could rush hurriedly toward the most convenient public restroom to be sick.

The bus was approaching the street towards the stop when it dawned on me I was unable to last. All of a sudden, it felt as if a veil came over me. Everything just went hazy and muffled; similar to when one cut the sound. My mind raced, “I’m going to faint”.

Luckily I was close to the driver on the bus, so I took a few steps to ask the driver and told the operator to open the doors, informing him that I was about to get ill. The driver opened the doors and I weakly exited on to the pavement.

I was determined to not get sick before a busy multi-lane road, so I picked myself up and started trying to make my way across to the park across the road, thinking I could it would allow me to find some privacy behind a bush to vomit. Yet I apparently fainted. I was aware of my limbs, but I was unable to walk or see clearly, so I started dragging myself toward my intended destination.

“Everything alright, love?”

At that moment, I was lifted up. I sensed a strong arm supporting me and a man’s voice asked, “Everything alright, love?” I told this mysterious stranger that I required to vomit. So he virtually carried me into an adjacent building and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He asked me if I wanted him to wait for me but I said no.

After a short while, I had recovered to the point of sitting down and from outside the door I heard him inquire, “Are you feeling better, dear? Is there anything you require?” I could not to stand up just then but did manage to thank him and following a brief period was able to move my legs. I made my way home passing the following days healing from which was a severe stomach virus.

I never glimpsed the stranger’s face – just his lower half along with a sizable steelwork tools container he held – yet he rescued me, when I was at my most vulnerable.

Often this world has a way of making you guarded, hostile, and combative. His was the sort of gesture that undoes that hardening of the heart. He was proof that our default setting is to be kind, a trait I cherish about humanity.