Ottawa is bone-frozen, star-bright, snow-silent. In the ER, the resident and I touch near-death. No one will love me like her, our patient says, heartbroken, groggy, and charcoal-stained. We talk, blend, challenge. His cheeks wet, he grips my hand, decides to live. Later, the resident quietly shares. Once heart-heavy and death-tempted; now life-inspired to shine.