The kindness of strangers: I was wearing silly high heels - and someone saved me from falling down the stairs

I was doing a good job of staying upright and dignified, until a surge of people rushed towards me

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I was 19 and thought I was invincible. I’d just broken up with my boyfriend and to boost my ego, I decided to put on a skirt that was probably a bit too short and a pair of heels that were definitely too high. The stiletto heel was about 13cm tall – crazy! – but oh, how I loved those shoes.

I really shouldn’t have been wearing those shoes on public transport, especially not on a train. I remember how difficult it was to walk across the platform and how worried I was that I was going to go hurtling on to the tracks. I was already regretting my life choices at this point, but I successfully managed to totter my way off the train at Oxford station and start walking down what were then very steep stairs, holding on to the handrail for dear life with every step.