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Another exercise in regret.

Overcoming barriers to act. Duty to act. Both of those were lessons we learned in class. "Because we can," the instructor said. "We have to. We have a responsibility to act in situations where our skills can help." It was so easy in theory.

I walked to the FAC to meet with my friends. They all needed to vote except only one of them could vote here. I stood in line with them. We talked for a while as the line shuffled forward slowly. There was a commotion back behind us. We turned around to look.

A girl had collapsed on the floor.

People began to crowd around her and a handful of people stepped forward to help. And I stood there. I stood there and watched. Go over there. Something's wrong. I couldn't make myself walk over there. We stood there and told each other to do something. Nobody did anything. Alert. Patent airway. Breathing? Circulation? C-spine. Don't give her water. I stared as other people moved around and did things. I just stood there. Security guards came in with AEDs. They had no idea what to do. The line lurched forward. And I stood there. The people in the line looked at each other anxiously. It felt like they were looking at me. All those eyes. Accusing. Expectant.

Disappointed.

My heart pounded. Blood roared in my ears. All I could do was stand there. I watched her lay on the ground as the men in uniforms kneeled around her. They looked at me. I turned around and walked out of the building.

Two hours later I climbed into the back of the ambulance.

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