In Such Poor Health I Couldn’t Walk When a Man Practically Supported Me to the Toilets.
During my nineteenth year, my regular journey to work meant taking an express bus. It remained full and would always be without any seats by the time I boarded.
One particular morning, I began feeling quite nauseous when the coach swayed around each corner. I kept telling myself to endure for a few more stops so the bus could reached my destination, at which point I could make a mad dash toward the most convenient public toilet to vomit.
The bus was approaching the road leading to the destination as it dawned on me I wasn’t going to make it. Suddenly, it seemed a veil came over me. My vision turned blank and silent; as if someone turned off the audio. I said to myself, “I’m going to faint”.
Fortunately, I stood close to the driver of the bus, allowing me to take a few steps forward and told the operator to pull over, telling him I was going to be sick. The driver opened the doors and I weakly exited on to the pavement.
My intention was not to vomit in front of multiple lanes of cars, so I forced myself up and began attempting to walk toward the green space on the other side, thinking I could it would allow me to discreetly hide among some shrubs to be sick. However I must have blacked out. I sensed my body but walking was impossible or see properly, so I started dragging myself toward the grassy area.
“You right, love?”
In that instant, I got scooped up. I felt a strong arm supporting me and a man’s voice asked, “Are you okay, dear?” I explained to this kind passerby that I had to to get to a bathroom. So he virtually helped me walk down into an adjacent building and placed me in the ladies’ toilets. He inquired whether I required him to wait for me but I refused.
A few minutes later, I had recovered to the point of sitting on the toilet when from beyond the stall I heard him inquire, “Are you feeling better, dear? Do you need anything?” I could not to get up right away but did manage to thank him and after a few more minutes recovered the use of my limbs. I returned home and spent the following days recovering from which was a severe stomach virus.
I never glimpsed his features – just his lower half along with a sizable steelwork tools container he was carrying – but he helped me, during a time when I was in my weakest state.
Often this world can make you self-protective, pushy, and rivalrous. His was the sort of gesture that melts away that emotional callousness. He demonstrated that humanity’s innate tendency is towards kindness, something I love about my fellow humans.
