In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.
At the age of nineteenth year, my regular journey to work meant taking an packed public transport. It was perpetually crowded and was consistently completely full by the time I boarded.
One particular morning, I was feeling quite nauseous as the bus lurched around each corner. I continuously reassured myself to hold on just a little longer before the bus reached my destination, at which point I could sprint quickly to the closest washroom to vomit.
As we neared the street towards my stop and I understood I was unable to hold on. Suddenly, it was like a fog descended upon me. The world became hazy and muffled; similar to when one turned off the audio. I said to myself, “I will lose consciousness”.
Luckily I was toward the front inside the vehicle, allowing me to take a couple of steps forward and asked the driver to open the doors, informing him I needed to get ill. He promptly opened the entrance and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.
I was determined not to vomit in front of six lanes of traffic, so I gathered myself and endeavored to stumble toward the green space opposite the street, where I thought I could at least discreetly hide behind a bush to throw up. But then I likely blacked out. I was aware of my limbs, but I couldn’t walk or see properly, so I started dragging myself toward the grassy area.
“Everything alright, love?”
At that moment, someone picked me up. I sensed an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I told this unknown man that I had to to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically helped me walk down into a nearby building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He asked me whether I required him to wait for me but I declined.
Not long after, I had recovered enough to sit down and from the other side of the stall I heard him inquire, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I could not to rise right away but I was able to thank him and following a brief period regained the function of my legs. I returned home and then spent the next few days recovering from what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.
I did not see that man’s face – merely his legs and a large steelwork tools container he was carrying – but he saved me, at a moment I was in my weakest state.
Frequently, society can make you guarded, hostile, and combative. What he did was the kind of action that melts away that emotional callousness. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination is towards kindness, something I love about humanity.