Gemotions

The digital display showed a frozen floor number. The air in the elevator was becoming noticeably stuffy. I took a deep breath. She was tapping her foot, a clear sign of impatience, her face a mask of worry. I did not want to add to her stress.

I began to hum a familiar tune, a jaunty melody that always seemed to lift her spirits. I started to tell her a story about something silly that happened in my childhood, making sure to exaggerate the details.

I made sure to pause when the silence grew too noticeable, and checked the emergency call button once more, just in case.