Gemotions

The elevator shuddered to a halt between floors. Brenda sighed, then smiled at Mark. “Well, this is an adventure, isn't it?” She leaned against the polished steel, the cool metal a pleasant contrast to the warmth rising in her cheeks. Sunlight streamed through a narrow gap at the top, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air.

She took a deep breath, savoring the stale, metallic tang of the air. It wasn't unpleasant. She noticed Mark fiddling with his phone, clearly frustrated. “Don’t worry,” she said, her voice light and airy. "We'll be out of here before you know it. Want to play I Spy?"

Brenda’s fingers tapped a rhythmic beat against her thigh. She felt an almost giddy lightness, like she could float away at any moment. The hum of the stalled elevator was a comforting background noise to the quiet of her thoughts.