Dispatches from Nowhere 12.13.05
(and now for something completely different)
Come out of the bathroom, into the greenish lights of the hallway, turn the corner and press the button to call the elevator. The elevator dings to let you know it has arrived almost before your fingers have left the button. What’s that in the doorway – is there some one inside? There is no one there. Just the slightly damp smell that seems to be ever present in this elevator – it’s the last on the left – you know the one – across from the service elevator? Right. That one.
Step inside. Hit the button for P2. What was that? It’s nothing. Nothing moved. You’re just tired at the end of the day. It’s the lights playing with your eyes. The incandescents are hell for color. The elevator creeks and groans as the doors shut.
“What if it doesn’t stop?”
The voice tickles at the back of your brain, tweaking your adrenal glands. Your heart skips a beat.
Relax. It is just the end of the day and you are tired. Nothing to worry about. Just push the button. Take a deep breath.
“What if it just keeps going past your floor and slams in to the earth – its only seven floors – you might survive. It could happen.”
“What if it just keeps going past your floor and never stops?”
“Go ahead. Press the buttons. They buttons all light up – but they don’t work anymore. The phone cord has been chewed through or ripped out – it all looks the same.”
The elevator lurches into motion, starting the journey down.
Just breathe. It will be over quickly.
Breathe.
The doors open on your floor. The lights are normal and your car is waiting. The elevator dings as the doors close.
(all rights reserved Matthew Messenger 2005)
Come out of the bathroom, into the greenish lights of the hallway, turn the corner and press the button to call the elevator. The elevator dings to let you know it has arrived almost before your fingers have left the button. What’s that in the doorway – is there some one inside? There is no one there. Just the slightly damp smell that seems to be ever present in this elevator – it’s the last on the left – you know the one – across from the service elevator? Right. That one.
Step inside. Hit the button for P2. What was that? It’s nothing. Nothing moved. You’re just tired at the end of the day. It’s the lights playing with your eyes. The incandescents are hell for color. The elevator creeks and groans as the doors shut.
“What if it doesn’t stop?”
The voice tickles at the back of your brain, tweaking your adrenal glands. Your heart skips a beat.
Relax. It is just the end of the day and you are tired. Nothing to worry about. Just push the button. Take a deep breath.
“What if it just keeps going past your floor and slams in to the earth – its only seven floors – you might survive. It could happen.”
“What if it just keeps going past your floor and never stops?”
“Go ahead. Press the buttons. They buttons all light up – but they don’t work anymore. The phone cord has been chewed through or ripped out – it all looks the same.”
The elevator lurches into motion, starting the journey down.
Just breathe. It will be over quickly.
Breathe.
The doors open on your floor. The lights are normal and your car is waiting. The elevator dings as the doors close.
(all rights reserved Matthew Messenger 2005)
posted by depressoboy at 12:18 AM
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