Natalie knew Susan''s life wasn''t in danger, but her frostbitten skin needed urgent medical attention.


    Susan''s hands were still red and icy to the touch, even as she warmed up.


    "Thank you," Natalie said, forcing herself to be calm. As she reyed the day''s events in her mind, her expression hardened.


    Just then, a man''s frantic voice cut through the air. "Move! Please, move your cars! My wife''s inbor!"


    The man was shouting in desperation, practically jumping out of his skin with anxiety.


    The ring of car horns only made the gridlock more stressful for everyone.


    Someone yelled out their window, "Lay off the horns! There''s an ident up there, they''re dealing with it! All that noise isn''t helping!"


    Natalie heard themotion. When she realized someone was shouting about a woman inbor, her own anxiety spiked.


    The ident wasn''t far ahead. Peeking through the window, she could see the two drivers were now physically fighting.


    Natalie frowned. Fighting in the middle of the road on a day like this, holding everyone up instead of solving the problem...


    She looked over at Susan, who was lying t. Color was returning to her face, but Natalie was still worried about her frostbite. She had the medical knowledge but no supplies; she was helpless.


    "I''ve called 911 ten times! The choppers are grounded because of the weather, and the patrol cars can''t get through this mess!" Arthur roared.


    The same man roared, his voice filled with desperation.


    The snow had stopped, but the air was still frigid.


    His desperate cries sounded thin and helpless against the cold wind.


    Natalie looked at the paramedic across from her.


    "Someone out there is inbor," she said to him.


    The paramedic cut her off with a weary sigh.


    "Our training is in emergency trauma, not obstetrics. We can''t help."


    His tone was final.


    Natalie''s heart sank.


    She knew how to deliver a baby, but under these circumstances...


    She nced worriedly at Susan.


    Up ahead, the two drivers were still going at it, their fight escting.


    Someone tried to intervene and got an earful for their trouble.


    The two men refused to back down or move their cars, just stood there screaming at each other.


    Even when the police arrived, they kept arguing, refusing to move their vehicles.


    "Help! For God''s sake, help! Somebody please help my wife!"


    The man''s voice was raw with desperation.


    Natalie looked out the window at the


    man He was dressed in expensive


    bask


    of


    clothes, but his face was a agony as he knelt helplessly on the cold ground, begging for help.


    Pleading for someone to save his wife and his child.


    His pleas moved her.


    She turned back to the paramedic. "Please look after my friend. I''m a doctor. I can deliver a baby. I''m going to see if I can help."


    The paramedic, not wanting to get involved, shook his head. "Miss, don''t make things worse. Even if you are a doctor what can you do aut here in the freezing cold with no equipment? If there are


    Natalie replied, "But as doctors, we can''t just stand by and watch someone suffer.


    We can''t refuse to help because we''re afraid of the liability."


    She knew that sometimes your best efforts meant nothing to others.


    Especially after everything she''d been through, having seen the worst of humanity, her heart had grown cold and distant.


    But she still believed that a little kindness could make a difference, and that there were more good people in the world than bad.


    Natalie gave her number to the paramedic. "Please, make sure my friend gets to the hospital. I''m going to check on that woman."


    The paramedic''s expression was


    stern. "Even if you are a doctor, this


    isn''t your problem Besides your friend is the patient here. She needs someone to handle her admission paperwork at the hospital. You can''t leave."


    in