Zekeriya Guser – Captivated conductor of my very own extraordinary journey.

A man strides into the elevator, pressing the floors button before meticulously adjusting his tie in the mirror. Just as the doors begin to close, a hand slips through, causing them to reopen. A lady enters, clad in a black jacket that conceals a vibrant red dress and matching high heels. She apologizes to him with a warm smile as she catches her breath. Then she turns her back to the door, checks her jacket and lipstick, and softly asks him to press the button for the 29th floor, giving him a cheeky grin as the elevator begins to ascend. The two remain silent while the elevator climbs, but he sneaks glances at her with the corner of his eye, wondering if she does the same to him.

Suddenly, a jolt brings surprise and a touch of fear. The man, eager to reassure, grabs the emergency phone, sharing a triumphant look as he contacts the building’s guard, explaining their predicament between the 15th and 16th floors.

The guard advises them to remain calm and promises to call the lift company. While waiting, the lady, visibly stressed, assures the man she’s fine with a trembling voice .

As they chat about their misfortune of being trapped in the elevator, the emergency phone suddenly rings. The guard eventually calls back, he grabs it eagerly and greets the caller with a burst of enthusiasm, like a child who has just received a Lego set for Christmas, only to hear being disclosed a delay due to a single crew on a Sunday, estimating a 2 to 3-hour wait. As the conversation continues between the two men, the woman stands beside him, waiting for him to hang up and tell her what is happening. As he hangs up the phone and turns around, finding her only centimeters away from him, eager for the news. When he tells her what is going on, her face falls and reveals her disappointment.

As there isn’t much to do she sits on the floor, removing her shoes to avoid creasing her dress. He sits next to her, hoping to have some chat while they wait for the technicians. But then she starts to ask him questions about his job, hobbies, and other topics that he finds boring. In a few minutes, he finds himself listening to her complaints about her unhappy marriage, this leading to her recounting the troubles in her marriage. Engrossed, he nods sympathetically, gradually realizing the allure of their confined situation, and mutters words like “yes” and “you are so right”. In the mean time he starts to realize that he is stuck with a very attractive woman in a elevator and they have at least few hours here. And suddenly all he can think is to fantasize to make out with her in this elevator. Also hearing more about her marriage makes him think she wouldn’t mind a little affair with this while being stuck in an elevator.

As he contemplates a spontaneous connection, he leans in for a kiss. Abruptly, she recoils, slapping him and sternly asserting her commitment to marriage. Apologetic and embarrassed, as well as suprised, he retreats, creating an awkward distance between them. He couldn’t know how to react other than say, “I am so sorry, I was not thinking properly,” with very embarrassed eyes. Then he moved a little further away from her and sat there quietly as if he had broken his mother’s favorite vase in the living room while playing with his ball.

With time passing, the elevator crew arrives, fixes the issue. The apartments’s seasoned veteran porter, Mr. Reginald Harrington greets them as the doors open. As he notices them seated apart in the confined elevator space, he warmly addresses, ‘Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan. I hope you are both well,’ accompanied by a friendly smile. Grateful for his kindness and that of the crew, they reciprocate with smiles and expressions of thanks. Standing, she leans on his shoulder for support while putting on her shoes, and he shakes the crew’s hands in appreciation.

As they depart from the elevator towards the stairs, she rests her head on his shoulder, and they walk together to their flat…