At only 19 years old, this commuter faced an impossibly difficult and traumatic experience. That’s what occurred on what should have been a regular, sleepy rush hour ride aboard an express bus. This particular day was big on turns and bends, and each twist that the bus made made the person feel even more queasy, making this situation worse. Even while feeling sick, however, they were still committed to making a peaceful pilgrimage to their destination including a key stop around a public bathroom.
Our trip quickly became an ordeal as my nausea worsened. The young railroaders couldn’t look away from the waves of rush hour traffic. This stressful predicament only added to their stress and worry. They just wanted to make it across the busy highway and into the neighborhood park. Their mission was to discover just enough concealment behind a shrub for a second of private aid.
After forcing themselves off the bus, this person gritted their teeth and started making their way to the park. Their body fought back against the exertion, and they soon discovered they were going to have to seek relief right away. After what seemed like forever, they made it to a public restroom nearby—thankful that one was in close distance.
Once inside, they faced another challenge. The dumbfounded constipation remained, and they found themselves doubled over in pain when they accidentally sat on the toilet. It was at this point that they began to hear someone calling from outside the door, “Are you alright, babe? This friendly question from an otherwise-unknown stranger turned out to be a source of both reassurance and joy in the day’s sadness. It took them a few minutes before they collected themselves enough to say thank you.
As time went by in that little washroom, that newbie transit rider started to get better. Not only that, they can now stand and walk again! To their surprise, with this new firepower, they discovered that they wouldn’t have to retreat so precipitously after all. In the moments that followed, the stranger’s honest kindness was evident as they looked out for her safety. This act did more than provide comfort, it showed the world the goodness that can flourish, even amid personal adversity.
Following their trauma, the commuter worked diligently on the long road to healing. For the next 4 days, they fought through a fierce stomach virus. They looked back on the experience with a sense of relief and gratitude. It may have taken small acts of kindness to make that big change in their lives when they needed it most.