To me, one of the greatest stresses in life is being stuck in traffic.

On a beautiful morning in October 2017, we were stuck on the local bus in Nice.

I needed to get to the bus terminal to take a coach to Genoa. The bus stop was just a short distance away, but the long queue of cars ahead of us didn’t appear to be moving. Even though I left the hotel a little earlier than needed, I was now going to be late.

I read the booking email again and again. It said I had to be at the terminal at least 15 minutes before departure. Alas, I was already 10 minutes late for that. I bit my lips and looked at the RED traffic light ahead.

I had no idea how large the bus terminal was and I was getting really nervous. The coach was the only bus to Genoa that day. If I missed it, I would have to reschedule the rest of the trip. Hotels, tours, trains…cancellation fees would be really big. And it would be a nightmare. My stomach sank and my knees shook.

Finally, the bus stopped in front of the terminal at almost exactly the departure time of the coach.

As soon as the door opened, I leapt out of the bus and sprinted towards the coaches. I have never run that fast with a full-size, 20kg, suitcase. And the moment I spotted my coach, it started moving!! Oh no!!

“Waaaaait!! Pleeeeease!!”

I yelled and waved my arms desperately, but the driver didn’t see me. I kept running and yelling as if my life depended on it.

I was about to give up when a man standing close to the coach noticed me. 

He ran in front of the coach, swinging his arms above his head and yelling at the driver to stop.

The coach stopped and the door opened. I reached it as if I was finishing a marathon. 

“Thank you very much, sir”, I said huffing and puffing to my savoir.

The gentleman, who looked in his 40s, rolled his eyes and shook his head. 

“Safe trip, young lady! Try not to rush in life that much.”

And he smiled.

“I will try, thank you. You saved my life!!”

I managed a smile on my sweaty face and got on the coach. The other passengers started clapping. I thanked them and the driver as well.

I am sometimes reminded of that hectic run, especially when I am running late or when things are not going as planned. I may or may not make it, but the important thing I learned is to run as fast as you can until the very last breath. And if you are reading this nice Nice guy, thank you very much.