Feeling So Sick Walking Was Impossible When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to a Bathroom.
At the age of my late teens, my daily commute meant taking an crowded coach. The vehicle was always crowded and invariably became without any seats by the time I stepped aboard.
One particular morning, I was feeling terribly ill as the bus rocked around the bends. I kept telling myself to hold on another few kilometres before the bus arrived at where I needed to get off, at which point I could sprint quickly for the nearest public restroom to throw up.
The bus was approaching the road leading to the stop when I understood I was unable to hold on. Suddenly, it seemed a fog descended upon me. My vision turned white and really quiet; as if someone cut the sound. I said to myself, “I am about to pass out”.
Fortunately, I stood close to the driver inside the vehicle, so I managed a couple of steps to ask the driver and asked the driver to open the doors, telling him I was going to vomit. He opened the bus doors and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.
My intention was not to vomit before multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and began attempting to stumble toward the green space opposite the street, where I thought it would allow me to discreetly hide behind a bush to vomit. But then I apparently lost consciousness. I was aware of my physical self, yet walking was impossible or see properly, so I began dragging myself toward the grassy area.
“Are you okay, dear?”
At that moment, I got scooped up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and heard a man say, “Everything alright, love?” I told this unknown man that I required to be sick. Thus, he practically supported my weight over to a nearby building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He wanted to know if I wanted him to wait for me but I said no.
A few minutes later, I had recovered enough to sit 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 at that moment but did manage to thank him and following a brief period recovered the use of my legs. I got myself home and spent the following days getting over which was a nasty tummy bug.
I never saw the stranger’s face – merely his legs and a large metal toolbox he had with him – yet he rescued me, at a moment I was completely helpless.
Many times, life has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that reverses that hardening of the heart. He demonstrated that people’s natural inclination is to be kind, a trait I cherish about humanity.
