Feeling So Sick I Was Unable to Walk Until a Fellow Passenger Practically Supported Me to a Bathroom.
At the age of my late teens, my morning travel was on an packed public transport. The vehicle was always full and was consistently completely full when I got on.
During a certain commute, I started experiencing quite nauseous while the vehicle lurched around every turn. I repeatedly told myself to persevere just a little longer until the bus got to my destination, and then I could rush hurriedly for the nearest public restroom to vomit.
We were coming down the street towards the destination as I realised I was unable to hold on. Suddenly, it felt as if a veil came over me. Everything just went hazy and muffled; similar to when one muted everything. My mind raced, “I will lose consciousness”.
Thankfully, I was positioned near the front on the bus, so I managed several steps forward and told the operator to open the doors, informing him that I was about to get ill. The driver opened the bus doors and I stumbled out out onto the street.
I was determined not to vomit in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I picked myself up and started trying to walk across to the park opposite the street, where I believed I could at least secretly conceal myself among some shrubs to throw up. But then I likely lost consciousness. I could feel my body but walking was impossible or see clearly, so I started crawling towards the park.
“Are you okay, dear?”
In that instant, someone picked me up. I sensed someone holding me and a man’s voice asked, “You right, love?” I told this unknown man that I needed to get to a bathroom. Thus, he practically supported my weight into an adjacent building and guided me into the female bathroom. He wanted to know if I needed him to remain with me but I declined.
A few minutes later, I regained my composure enough to sit on the toilet and from the other side of the door I heard him inquire, “Do you need anything, love? Can I get you something?” I wasn’t able to rise just then but I did succeed to express my gratitude and following a brief period was able to move my legs. I returned home and then spent the next few days getting over which was a horrible case of gastroenteritis.
I never saw that man’s face – merely his legs and the big container for tools he was carrying – but he saved me, at a moment I was in my weakest state.
Many times, life can make you defensive, aggressive and competitive. What he did was the kind of action that melts away that protective shell. He served as evidence that people’s natural inclination is to be kind, a trait I cherish in other people.
