I was temporarily living with my mom and working at a retail store in the mall. I was waiting at the bus stop on my way home when a young man around 22 sat next to me and started up a conversation. I have had many experiences where strangers tell me there entire life story within minutes of meeting me. Even when I am not showing the slightest interest, they just continue to divulge very personal information for no apparent reason. I am usually very annoyed when this happens, but this guy was nice and just seemed like he really needed someone to talk to. Plus his pinpoint pupils indicated that he was under the influence of some substance and I figured it was safer to humor him until the bus came.
In the 15 minutes it took for the bus to arrive he filled me in on the last 5 years of his life. He was 22, lived locally, suffered a sports related injury in high school which led to an addiction to a long list of prescribed pain killers, his family had a history of mental illness and he was ready to give up on life. I wasn't sure what to do in this situation so I just listened politely as he started to go into a medicinal haze.
Finally the bus arrived, I had to nudge him to bring him back to reality long enough to get on the bus. Within moments of the bus taking off, his head fell back, mouth open, and he slowly started sliding out of his seat and on to the center isle floor of the bus. The man sitting next to me alerted the bus driver who immediately pulled over and attempted to wake him. After having no response and not feeling a pulse, she called 911. Once the paramedics showed up I was able to give them enough information about this man I'd never met before, including all the medications he was on, that they were able to revive him with a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart.
As soon as he came to he immediately made eye contact with me and a look of shame mixed with thankful relief washed over his face and sent chills down my spine.
Before they left, one of the medics told me that if I had not been a good enough Samaritan to listen to the ramblings of a stranger, he would have overdosed on the floor of the bus. I don't know why things like this always happen to me but I know it's for a reason and If it helps save a life, it's worth it.
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