In Such Poor Health Walking Was Impossible When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.
At the age of my late teens, my regular journey to work involved an express bus. It was perpetually full and was consistently standing room only by the time I got on.
During a certain commute, I was feeling quite nauseous while the vehicle lurched around the bends. I continuously reassured myself to persevere another few kilometres so the bus could arrived at my destination, at which point I could rush hurriedly to the closest washroom to vomit.
As we neared the road leading to the stop when it dawned on me I was unable to last. In an instant, it felt as if a veil came over me. Everything just went hazy and muffled; similar to when one turned off the audio. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.
Fortunately, I stood near the front on the bus, so I took a couple of steps toward the driver and requested that the driver to open the doors, informing him that I was about to get ill. He promptly opened the bus doors and I hurriedly stepped onto the sidewalk.
I was resolved to not get sick in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I picked myself up and started trying to make my way to the park opposite the street, where I thought I could at least secretly conceal myself near some foliage to throw up. But then I apparently blacked out. I was aware of my physical self, yet I couldn’t walk and my vision was blurry, leading me to start dragging myself toward the grassy area.
“Are you okay, dear?”
At that moment, I got scooped up. I sensed a strong arm supporting me and heard a man say, “You right, love?” I told this unknown man that I needed to get to a bathroom. So he virtually supported my weight into a close-by structure and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I wanted him to stay with me but I refused.
After a short while, I regained my composure to the point of sitting on the toilet and from outside the door I heard him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Can I get you something?” I wasn’t able to rise at that moment but I was able to express my gratitude and after a few more minutes was able to move my limbs. I made my way home passing the following days healing from which was a severe stomach virus.
I never saw that man’s face – only his legs and the big container for tools he was carrying – but he helped me, at a moment I was in my weakest state.
Frequently, society can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that emotional callousness. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency is towards kindness, something I love about humanity.
