In Such Poor Health I Was Unable to Walk When a Man Virtually Carried Me to a Restroom.

Back when I was my late teens, my regular journey to work involved an packed public transport. It was perpetually full and was consistently standing room only by the time I boarded.

During a certain commute, I was feeling incredibly sick as the bus swayed around every turn. I kept telling myself to hold on another few kilometres until the bus got to where I needed to get off, at which point I could sprint quickly for the nearest public restroom to vomit.

We were coming down the street towards my stop and it dawned on me I was unable to hold on. In an instant, it seemed a veil came over me. My vision turned hazy and muffled; similar to when one turned off the audio. My mind raced, “I’m going to faint”.

Luckily I was near the front of the bus, so I took a few steps to ask the driver and told the operator to open the doors, telling him that I was about to get ill. He opened the entrance and I weakly exited on to the pavement.

I was determined to not get sick in view of a busy multi-lane road, so I gathered myself and started trying to make my way to the park on the other side, where I believed it would allow me to discreetly hide among some shrubs to vomit. However I apparently lost consciousness. I was aware of my body but I was unable to walk or see clearly, so I began inching my way to the grassy area.

“Are you okay, dear?”

Right then, I was lifted up. There was a strong arm supporting me and a stranger inquired, “Everything alright, love?” I told this unknown man that I required to get to a bathroom. Therefore, he almost carried me over to a nearby building and guided me in the ladies’ toilets. He wanted to know whether I required him to stay with me but I declined.

Not long after, I had recovered to the point of sitting down when from beyond the door I heard his voice asking, “Are you OK, love? Do you need anything?” I could not to rise at that moment but I was able to express my gratitude and following a brief period regained the function of my feet. I returned home and spent the next few days recovering from what turned out to be a severe stomach virus.

I never glimpsed his features – merely his legs and the big metal toolbox he held – but he saved me, during a time when I was completely helpless.

Frequently, society tends to make people defensive, aggressive and competitive. His was the sort of gesture that undoes that protective shell. He served as evidence that humanity’s innate tendency leans toward compassion, something I love about my fellow humans.