I Was So Ill Walking Was Impossible Until a Fellow Passenger Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.

At the age of nineteenth year, my regular journey to work was on an express bus. It was perpetually jammed and would always be without any seats by the time I stepped aboard.

On one specific day, I started experiencing quite nauseous when the coach rocked around each corner. I repeatedly told myself to persevere for a few more stops until the bus arrived at my destination, so I could then rush hurriedly toward the most convenient public restroom to be sick.

As we neared the road leading to the stop when it dawned on me I was unable to make it. Suddenly, it seemed a veil came over me. The world became blank and silent; like someone had cut the sound. I thought, “I’m going to faint”.

Luckily I was toward the front inside the vehicle, so I managed several steps forward and asked the driver to open the doors, explaining to him I was going to vomit. He opened the doors and I weakly exited out onto the street.

My intention was not to vomit in view of multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and began attempting to walk toward the green space on the other side, thinking I could it would allow me to discreetly hide near some foliage to vomit. But then I apparently fainted. I could feel my limbs, but I couldn’t walk or see clearly, leading me to start dragging myself toward the grassy area.

“You right, love?”

At that moment, I got scooped up. I felt someone holding me and a stranger inquired, “You right, love?” I managed to tell the mysterious stranger that I needed to vomit. Therefore, he almost helped me walk over to a nearby building and placed me inside the women’s restroom. He wanted to know whether I required him to stay with me but I said no.

Not long after, I had recovered to the point of sitting down and from the other side of the stall I heard his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I was incapable to get up just then but I did succeed to express my gratitude and following a brief period recovered the use of my limbs. I returned home and spent the following days recovering from what turned out to be a nasty tummy bug.

I never saw his features – merely his legs and a large steelwork tools container he was carrying – but he helped me, when I was in my weakest state.

Many times, life has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that our default setting is towards kindness, a trait I cherish about humanity.