In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Virtually Carried Me to a Bathroom.
During my my late teens, my daily commute involved an crowded coach. It was perpetually jammed and invariably became completely full when I boarded.
During a certain commute, I was feeling terribly ill as the bus swayed around each corner. I continuously reassured myself to endure for a few more stops before the bus arrived at my destination, and then I could sprint quickly toward the most convenient public restroom to throw up.
The bus was approaching the street towards my stop and I understood I would not be to hold on. All of a sudden, it felt as if a curtain fell over me. The world became white and really quiet; as if someone muted everything. I thought, “I am about to pass out”.
Thankfully, I was positioned near the front of the bus, so I managed several steps forward and requested that the driver to pull over, telling him I was going to vomit. The driver opened the bus doors and I hurriedly stepped on to the pavement.
My intention was to avoid being sick in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and started trying to stumble across to the park opposite the street, where I believed I could at least find some privacy among some shrubs to vomit. Yet I must have lost consciousness. I could feel my physical self, yet I couldn’t walk or see properly, so I began dragging myself toward my intended destination.
“Are you okay, dear?”
At that moment, I got scooped up. I sensed a strong arm supporting me and a man’s voice asked, “Are you okay, dear?” I managed to tell the kind passerby that I had to to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically supported my weight into a nearby building and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired if I wanted him to wait for me but I declined.
Not long after, I had recovered sufficiently to sit on the restroom floor and from outside the stall I heard his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to get up at that moment but I did succeed to express my gratitude and following a brief period was able to move my legs. I returned home passing the following days healing from what turned out to be a nasty tummy bug.
I did not see that man’s face – merely his legs and the big metal toolbox he was carrying – yet he rescued me, during a time when I was completely helpless.
Often this world can make you guarded, hostile, and combative. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that emotional callousness. He demonstrated that our default setting is towards kindness, something I love about my fellow humans.
