Feeling So Sick I Couldn’t Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Practically Supported Me to a Restroom.

At the age of my late teens, my daily commute meant taking an packed public transport. It remained full and would always be without any seats when I boarded.

During a certain commute, I was feeling quite nauseous while the vehicle lurched around every turn. I kept telling myself to endure for a few more stops before the bus reached my stop, so I could then make a mad dash for the nearest public toilet to vomit.

We were coming down the street towards the stop when I understood I was unable to last. Suddenly, it felt as if a fog descended upon me. The world became white and really quiet; like someone had muted everything. I thought, “I’m going to faint”.

Thankfully, I was positioned toward the front on the bus, allowing me to take several steps to ask the driver and told the operator to pull over, explaining to him I needed to be sick. The driver opened the bus doors and I stumbled out onto the sidewalk.

My intention was to not get sick in view of six lanes of traffic, so I forced myself up and endeavored to walk across to the park across the road, where I believed I could at least discreetly hide behind a bush to vomit. Yet I likely blacked out. I sensed my body but I was unable to walk and my vision was blurry, so I began dragging myself toward my intended destination.

“You right, love?”

At that moment, someone picked me up. There was an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “You right, love?” I told this mysterious stranger that I required to be sick. Thus, he practically supported my weight down into a close-by structure and placed me inside the women’s restroom. He inquired if I wanted him to remain with me but I declined.

A few minutes later, I felt better enough to sit down and from outside the stall I heard him inquire, “Are you feeling better, dear? Can I get you something?” I wasn’t able to stand up right away but I was able to express my gratitude and shortly thereafter regained the function of my feet. I made my way home and then spent several days getting over which was a severe stomach virus.

I did not see his features – only his legs along with a sizable steelwork tools container he held – but he helped me, at a moment I was at my most vulnerable.

Often this world has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that undoes that protective shell. He was proof that people’s natural inclination leans toward compassion, a trait I cherish in other people.