Trapped in a lift

Together with Azia Mamatova we write this story____________

It was a hot day of 12 of July. People did not know where to hide from the heat in the stuffy city.  It was ordinary Monday. The day when all the clerks are getting ready to start a new working week. And they were no exception…

The young girl was heading for the lift, late for her workplace in the office. She pressed nervously  the elevator button, but it did not come. She heard footsteps behind her and saw a man’s hand approaching the button. She shot an irritated look at the man behind her back. It was him. Her boss.

‘Hello, Mr…’ she said  perplexedly.

‘Good morning, Christine!’ he answered mockingly glancing at his wrist watch.

There was the sound and the doors of elevator opened. They went into the elevator. Christine started to tuck her hair behind her ears nervously. She was constantly looking at the changing numbers of floors passing by.  When suddenly the elevator stopped abruptly.

Mr. Walker pressed all the buttons restlessly. He tried to call the secretary in the office, but there was no mobile connection. Mr. Walker sat on the floor in despair and began to breathe deeply.

Christine got scared and ran up to him, throwing the folder with the documents on the floor.

‘Mr. Walker, what is wrong with you?’

‘It is claustrophobia, Christine’

‘How can I help you, Mr. Walker?’

‘Just please take my hand’

‘Oh, okay..’ and with a trembling hand she took his. He was looking at her with the look full of deep feelings and emotions.

‘Mr. Walker?’

‘Just call me Mike’. And after 10 minutes of silence he added ‘I have something to tell you, Christine’.

He began to tell her how his life had changed since her first day in the office. He did not know how to talk to her on break, could not ask her out and felt like a teenager, not a wise adult man. She was embarrassed and was not sure if she should tell her boss that their feelings were mutual.

She was awkwardly silent, so he told her ‘I’m not asking anything from you, just wanted to let these feelings out. It’s so difficult to keep it inside!’  He threw her hand away with indignation.

She hesitated for some time and finally said ‘I think I love you…’

The doors opened and it was the beginning of their story.