I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible When a Man Practically Supported Me to a Bathroom.

During my 19 years old, my daily commute was on an packed public transport. It remained jammed and would always be standing room only once I boarded.

On one specific day, I was feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle lurched around the bends. I kept telling myself to persevere just a little longer until the bus got to my destination, at which point I could rush hurriedly to the closest public restroom to be sick.

As we neared the road leading to the stop when it dawned on me I would not be to hold on. All of a sudden, it felt as if a curtain fell over me. Everything just went blank and silent; as if someone cut the sound. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.

Luckily I was near the front of the bus, so I managed a few steps toward the driver and told the operator to pull over, informing him I needed to be sick. He opened the bus doors and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.

I was resolved to avoid being sick in view of multiple lanes of cars, so I gathered myself and started trying to walk toward the green space on the other side, thinking I could it would allow me to find some privacy near some foliage to be sick. Yet I must have blacked out. I was aware of my body but I was unable to walk and my vision was blurry, so I began dragging myself toward the grassy area.

“Are you okay, dear?”

In that instant, I was lifted up. I sensed an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I explained to this kind passerby that I had to to get to a bathroom. So he virtually supported my weight over to a close-by structure and put me into the female bathroom. He inquired if I needed him to stay with me but I refused.

Not long after, I felt better sufficiently to sit on the toilet and from the other side of the door I heard him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I could not to stand up just then but I was able to say thank you and after a few more minutes recovered the use of my legs. I made my way home passing the next few days getting over which was a horrible case of gastroenteritis.

I did not see that man’s face – just his lower half along with a sizable metal toolbox he held – but he helped me, at a moment I was at my most vulnerable.

Often this world has a way of making you guarded, hostile, and combative. What he did was the kind of action that melts away that emotional callousness. He demonstrated that our default setting is towards kindness, a trait I cherish in other people.