In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk When a Man Virtually Carried Me to a Bathroom.
During my nineteenth year, my daily commute was on an packed public transport. The vehicle was always crowded and invariably became without any seats by the time I stepped aboard.
One particular morning, I was feeling terribly ill as the bus lurched around the bends. I continuously reassured myself to hold on just a little longer until the bus reached my destination, at which point I could rush hurriedly to the closest public restroom to throw up.
As we neared the avenue close to the stop when I realised I was unable to hold on. In an instant, it was like a veil came over me. The world became hazy and muffled; as if someone cut the sound. I thought, “I will lose consciousness”.
Thankfully, I was positioned toward the front inside the vehicle, so I took a few steps forward and requested that the driver to stop, informing him that I was about to get ill. The driver opened the entrance and I hurriedly stepped onto the sidewalk.
I was resolved to avoid being sick in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I forced myself up and started trying to stumble to the park opposite the street, where I believed I could at least secretly conceal myself near some foliage to vomit. Yet I must have lost consciousness. I sensed my body but walking was impossible or see properly, leading me to start inching my way to my intended destination.
“Everything alright, love?”
Right then, I got scooped up. There was an arm around my waist and a man’s voice asked, “Are you okay, dear?” I told this mysterious stranger that I had to to vomit. So he virtually supported my weight over to a nearby building and guided me into the female bathroom. He wanted to know if I wanted him to wait for me but I refused.
A few minutes later, I had recovered to the point of sitting on the restroom floor when from beyond the door came him ask, “Are you feeling better, dear? Is there anything you require?” I could not to stand up just then but did manage to thank him and after a few more minutes was able to move my feet. I got myself home passing the following days getting over what was later diagnosed as a horrible case of gastroenteritis.
I did not see that man’s face – merely his legs along with a sizable steelwork tools container he had with him – but he saved me, during a time when I was in my weakest state.
Often this world has a way of making you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that reverses that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that our default setting leans toward compassion, a trait I cherish about humanity.