In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk When a Man Essentially Lifted Me to a Restroom.
During my nineteenth year, my daily commute meant taking an crowded coach. The vehicle was always jammed and was consistently without any seats by the time I boarded.
One particular morning, I started experiencing quite nauseous when the coach rocked around the bends. I repeatedly told myself to hold on another few kilometres until the bus got to where I needed to get off, and then I could sprint quickly toward the most convenient washroom to be sick.
We were coming down the avenue close to my stop and I understood I would not be to hold on. Suddenly, it was like a fog descended upon me. The world became blank and silent; similar to when one cut the sound. I thought, “I’m going to faint”.
Luckily I was close to the driver on the bus, so I took a couple of steps to ask the driver and requested that the driver to pull over, telling him I needed to be sick. He opened the doors and I stumbled out 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 across to the park opposite the street, thinking I could I could at least find some privacy behind a bush to be sick. Yet I must have lost consciousness. I sensed my limbs, but I was unable to walk and my vision was blurry, so I began crawling towards the park.
“Everything alright, love?”
Right then, someone picked me up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a stranger inquired, “Are you okay, dear?” I explained to this mysterious stranger that I needed to get to a bathroom. So he virtually supported my weight down into a close-by structure and put me in the ladies’ toilets. He asked me whether I required him to stay with me but I declined.
After a short while, I regained my composure enough to sit on the restroom floor when from beyond the door I heard his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Can I get you something?” I could not to rise just then but I was able to thank him and after a few more minutes recovered the use of my legs. I got myself home passing the next few days healing from what was later diagnosed as a severe stomach virus.
I did not see that man’s face – merely his legs and the big container for tools he was carrying – but he helped me, when I was completely helpless.
Frequently, society can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that undoes that protective shell. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination leans toward compassion, a trait I cherish about humanity.
