The steel doors slammed shut with a metallic clang, plunging the car into a sudden dimness. John felt his shoulders drop. He hadn't been this still in weeks. His usual fidgeting ceased. The fluorescent lights flickered, casting a sickly yellow glow on the two of them. He glanced at Sarah, who was already fiddling with her phone, probably checking for signal. He smiled, a genuine one that crinkled the corners of his eyes, and leaned back against the cool metal wall. It was the first time in ages he’d felt himself truly unwind.
"Looks like we're stuck," Sarah stated, her voice a touch brittle. John nodded, a comfortable silence settling between them. The hum of the elevator system had died, and the quiet was almost deafening in the sudden stillness. He closed his eyes. Perhaps he could finally get some peace. He'd been looking for it for so long.
He took a deep breath, pushing the air all the way into his belly. The stale, metallic scent of the elevator didn't bother him. In fact, it was the opposite. A wave of tranquility washed over him as he pictured the endless string of tasks he'd left behind. No phone calls. No deadlines. No meetings. Just him, Sarah, and the comforting silence of a broken elevator.