During my 19 years old, my regular journey to work meant taking an packed public transport. The vehicle was always crowded and was consistently completely full when I stepped aboard.
During a certain commute, I was feeling incredibly sick while the vehicle lurched around every turn. I kept telling myself to endure another few kilometres before the bus arrived at where I needed to get off, so I could then rush hurriedly toward the most convenient public restroom to be sick.
The bus was approaching the road leading to the destination as I understood I would not be to make it. In an instant, it was like a veil came over me. The world became white and really quiet; as if someone cut the sound. My mind raced, “I will lose consciousness”.
Fortunately, I stood close to the driver on the bus, allowing me to take several steps toward the driver and asked the driver to pull over, explaining to him I needed to vomit. He promptly opened the doors and I weakly exited onto the sidewalk.
My intention was to not get sick in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I gathered myself and began attempting to stumble to the park across the road, where I thought I’d at least be able to discreetly hide behind a bush to throw up. But then I apparently lost consciousness. I sensed my physical self, yet I was unable to walk and my vision was blurry, so I began dragging myself toward the park.
“Everything alright, love?”
Right then, I got scooped up. I felt an arm around my waist and a stranger inquired, “Everything alright, love?” I managed to tell the kind passerby that I had to to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically helped me walk down into an adjacent building and guided me into the female bathroom. He asked me if I wanted him to stay with me but I said no.
A few minutes later, I felt better sufficiently to sit on the restroom floor and from outside the door I heard his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Is there anything you require?” I wasn’t able to rise just then but I was able to thank him and after a few more minutes was able to move my legs. I made my way home and spent the following days getting over which was a severe stomach virus.
I did not see the stranger’s face – just his lower half and the big container for tools he held – yet he rescued me, when I was in my weakest state.
Frequently, society tends to make people self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. What he did was the kind of action that undoes that hardening of the heart. He served as evidence that our default setting is towards kindness, a quality I adore about humanity.
