In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk When a Man Virtually Carried Me to a Restroom.
During my my late teens, my daily commute involved an packed public transport. It was perpetually crowded and was consistently completely full by the time I stepped aboard.
During a certain commute, I was feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle lurched around each corner. I continuously reassured myself to persevere just a little longer so the bus could reached my destination, and then I could rush hurriedly for the nearest public restroom to throw up.
As we neared the road leading to the stop when I understood I was unable to make it. In an instant, it was like a curtain fell over me. Everything just went white and really quiet; like someone had muted everything. I said to myself, “I will lose consciousness”.
Thankfully, I was positioned close to the driver inside the vehicle, so I managed several steps forward and requested that the driver to pull over, informing him I was going to get ill. He promptly opened the entrance and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.
I was resolved to not get sick in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I forced myself up and endeavored to stumble toward the green space across the road, where I believed I could at least secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to be sick. Yet I likely blacked out. I was aware of my limbs, but walking was impossible or see clearly, so I began inching my way to the park.
“You right, love?”
In that instant, I was lifted up. There was an arm around my waist and heard a man say, “Are you okay, dear?” I told this kind passerby that I needed to get to a bathroom. So he virtually supported my weight into a close-by structure and put me inside the women’s restroom. He wanted to know whether I required him to stay with me but I declined.
A few minutes later, I regained my composure sufficiently to sit down and from outside the stall I heard him inquire, “Are you feeling better, dear? Can I get you something?” I was incapable to stand up just then but I was able to say thank you and after a few more minutes regained the function of my limbs. I got myself home and spent the next few days getting over what was later diagnosed as a horrible case of gastroenteritis.
I never glimpsed his features – merely his legs and a large metal toolbox he was carrying – but he helped me, during a time when I was at my most vulnerable.
Many times, life tends to make people guarded, hostile, and combative. His act was the type of kindness that reverses that emotional callousness. He demonstrated that humanity’s innate tendency leans toward compassion, something I love about humanity.