Unforeseen Illumination

Ding. The elevator doors opened once again allowing Aubrey to step back in. The end of the workday proved to be nothing but a rush. Fridays were always hectic. Her desk was left a mess. Papers scattered, files strewn about. She’d have to deal with the mess on Monday morning, during the beginning of the week rush. Her mind whirled with next week’s tasks already plaguing her weekend. If her mind hadn’t been so clustered as it was, she may not have left her phone on her desk. 

Before the elevator reached the top floor, the doors opened, picking up what Aubrey hoped was the last passenger. She needed to get home. The storm was getting worse and she didn’t want another flooded basement. As long as the sump pump holds out, everything should be fine, she thought to herself as she let out a breath. Hardly noticing the man stepping inside the elevator cab, she pressed the button to urge the doors closed.

The masculine scent of his woodsy cologne tickled her nose, prodding at her most innate desire. A desire she didn’t have time for in her busy life. Her young daughter needed her mother more than ever. More time than she had to give, as a direct response of her father choosing to be absent. 

Closing her eyes, Aubrey clung to the railing, willing herself not to make eye contact with the man standing near her. There was no time for chitchat. Soon she would be on her floor, he’d be sent back down, and she’d have her phone. With the way he smelled, she could only assume he was handsome. And handsome meant trouble. 

The lights flickered, briefly sending a flood of queries through her mind. Then the man's voice jolted her from her thoughts. 

“Most everyone is heading to the ground floor, but you’re heading up.”

Was that a question or a statement? She gave him a side glance. Oh gosh, he really is handsome. His manly features, dark hair, height, and strong jaw. She turned her focus to the panels of buttons in front of her. Don’t look at him. “Yes, I left something in my office.”

“You’re causing me to ride to the top.” 

His statement was plain. Still not a question. Don’t look at him again. But she did, to gauge the look on his face. Oh no, he has dimples too! His cheeky grin brought them out. “I’m sorry, we’re almost at the top, and you’ll be on your way down in no time.”

“I’m only teasing, it’s fine.” The small smile on his face was noticeable in his tone.

Just before reaching the top floor, the lights flickered once more before the cab went completely dark, jerking the elevator to a halt! “Oh God!” Aubry shouted, her panic was already evident. After several seconds, the emergency lights dimly lit the cab. Those seconds in total darkness felt like an eternity. Aubrey didn’t realize she stopped breathing until she gasped for air, choking as her lungs filled, and braced herself on the rail. 

The man reached for her arm to assist, his protective instincts kicking in before he could think better of it. He felt her stiffen under his grasp. 

Aubrey wasn’t sure which alarmed her more, the warm sensation of his firm but gentle grip, or the simple fact she was alone with a strange man in a stuck elevator. Every nerve stood on end when she looked up at him, their eyes meeting in the darkness of the corner they stood in.

The worry on his face disappeared as though suddenly noting the air sizzling between them. Banishing his thoughts, he worried his brow again. “Are you alright?” 

His low voice soothed her in a way she couldn’t understand. Vanishing every worry, every fear, every task ahead that loomed. “I am now.” She nodded, the words just above a whisper. Calm replaced it all.

The corner of his mouth tipped up. His eyes drifted to her lips. Then quickly releasing his hold on her arm, he stepped back to the wall opposite her. The air ceased to sizzle as the thick silence consumed them. The shadows hid any look on her face as he pressed his back into the corner in which he now stood. The hundreds of feet spanning beneath their own somehow made its presence known, as if the depths of the shaft spoke to him. “I feel like we are just dangling here in mid air.”

He was scared. She couldn’t see his face well enough, but she could tell by his tone. Although, the thought did bring an eerie feeling. What if the cables broke and the elevator plummeted? They’d never survive, and it would be a long way down knowing that.

With tender reassurance, she said, “We’re not going to fall. We are perfectly safe. Elevators only kill about thirty people a year, most of those are the technicians.” The whites of his eyes were clearly visible through the dimness of the small space they shared. 

Most of those? Most? Was that supposed to make him feel better? Hadn’t she ever heard of a freak accident? People die in freak accidents all the time.

“We aren’t going to fall. But we may be stuck here for a little while. What’s your name?”

“Leon.”

Of course, even his name had to sound handsome. “I’m Aubrey.” She extended her hand to him.

Hearing her name in his ears instantly sent a wave of tranquility through him. It was a pretty name. Inhaling deeply, he took her hand in his.

They held the handshake longer than was normal. Each enwrapped beyond their understanding. 

Aubrey pulled her hand away. “Do you have your phone? We can call for help.” She saw the whites of his eyes again. Oh gosh, what did that mean?

He gulped. “I left my phone in my car this morning. I never went back for it. Actually, it was kinda nice not having it all day. Now I wish I went back for it.”

“My phone is on my desk. Only ten feet above us.” So close, yet so far. Pausing, she took stock in the situation. “Now that you mentioned it, being without a phone does give one a sense of freedom. There is absolutely nothing I can do about anything right now. Nothing. I can’t remember the last time I felt this way. Everything is out of my hands. Jesus take the wheel, and preferably the elevator cables.” She let out a puff of laughter at herself and took a seat on the floor.

Puzzled, he looked down at her. How could she possibly be so calm? Not to mention, she was a female trapped with a male stranger. She was ok with that? They were trapped hundreds of feet in the air with no escape. Nothing they could do. Wait a minute...there is nothing we can do. She was right, it did bring an odd sort of freedom. 

She could feel his perplexing gaze. Patting the floor, she said, “Pull up some rug and have a seat.”

A smile crept across his face as he wrinkled his eyebrows. He sat down. What else was there to do, stand? There was a long moment of silence. Not a single sound came from above, below or through the doors. No one was around. Leon thought he knew the sound of silence before. But nothing can compare to silence in an abandoned elevator. It was deafening. Considering his situation, he was lucky to be stuck here with a pretty woman. Maybe he should get to know her. Fate might be knocking on the door. Certainly nothing else was.

Yet, nothing came to mind. What to ask her? He could hear her calm, deep breaths. Was she meditating? He never meditated before, so he wouldn’t know what it looked like. Or sounded like. His girlfriend meditated, well, tried to. Never had it worked for her. She ended up just as befuddled, impatient, and stressed as before. Not wanting to break the silence, he kept silent. 

Leon began to fidget. It grew increasingly harder to keep still and quiet. He raked his hand through his hair. 

“You don’t have to keep quiet on my account. Are you still worried?” She asked.

“Is it that obvious? How can you remain so calm? We have no idea how long we’ll be stuck here. Or if we’ll die in here or at the bottom.”

She turned to look at him. “We are not going to die. Elevators are not airtight, we are not going to run out of air.”

“I keep thinking about all the things I had to do after work. If I don’t die, then my girlfriend will kill me anyway.”

Aubrey’s eyebrows flickered. “Why would she kill you?”

“Because I won’t be home right away like I usually am, to cook dinner. And I have no way to tell her what’s going on. She’ll be furious.” His anxiety was increasing. 

Turning her body to face him, she huffed. “You mean she won’t be understanding when she finds out what happened?”

“Unlikely.”

“And more importantly, she won’t be relieved when she finds out you’re ok?” Her question was direct.

Leon paused, “Thought you said there’s nothing to worry about.”

“I did. That’s not my point.” She said flatly. 

“She’ll still be mad.”

What Aubrey really wanted to ask was what the heck kind of girl was he dating? She opened her mouth to ask the question, but refrained. What level headed woman wouldn’t be relieved to know their significant other was safe? What was there for his girlfriend to be mad about? Refrain, she could not. 

“At a time like this you shouldn’t have to worry about a girlfriend being mad about you being stuck in an elevator.”

“I definitely can’t tell Megan I was stuck in here with an attractive...er, I mean...” Oops. His face flooded with color. He doubted she could tell, though. 

Aubrey allowed herself a smile. How cute. 

He continued, “She doesn't even like it when I have to work with female coworkers. I get a million interrogation questions over it. That’s why I always go straight home after work, so she doesn’t get suspicious. She accused me of cheating when I was twenty minutes late one time. What could possibly have happened in twenty minutes, including the drive home?!” He threw up his hands in bewilderment. 

“Sounds like your girlfriend is insecure and controlling. Especially after that last comment.”

“Insecure?”

“Yes. If she accuses you of cheating, then she is insecure and she might even be projecting.” She saw his confusion. “Projection is accusing someone of an action that the accuser is actually doing. Either way, she’s probably the reason you have anxiety in general.”

“What makes you think I have anxiety?” His question was defensively painted.

“Because if you have to worry about something so trivial, then that tells me she’s irrational, unstable, selfish, and insecure. Unless, of course…” her voice trailed off.

“Unless, of course what?” He insisted.

“Unless she knows you can’t be trusted.”

The glow of the lights revealed the outrageous look on his face, telling her he was innocent. A cheating man is cocky, smooth, and charming. Leon was taken aback. His posture remained open, and he wasn’t faking a calm response. Leon was good.

“I am trustworthy. She has no reason not to trust me. I’ve never cheated.” The response fell within the normal range.

“Denial is the typical response. But I believe you, your non-verbals told me everything.”

He blinked in confusion. “What are you? Some sort of human lie detector?” 

“No, but I’ve had my fair share of experiences.” She turned her face away from his gaze.

Continuing to stare at her, he wondered if she’d offer up an explanation. 

“I’m divorced. My five-year-old daughter is at home with a babysitter. Neither one will know why I haven’t come home.”

“Where’s her dad?” As soon as the question left his mouth, he realized it was none of his business, and would sound insensitive if the father was deceased. 

“He’s chosen not to be a part of our lives.” A frank declaration. “When I got married, I thought he would be the leader, lead with strong hands. But unfortunately he liked spending too much time away from home, going out, acting like he was still single. He never took on the responsibility of having a wife and child. He allowed outside influences to infiltrate our marriage. It was my fault when I chose to ignore the red flags.”

Compassion struck him. Her daughter was at home missing her mother, wondering why she wasn’t home for dinner, and not knowing why her father wasn’t there either. His anxiety and concern was nothing compared to Aubrey’s. Her situation involved a child who wouldn’t understand and a father who didn’t care to show up. His own involved an adult who was irrational. That was all. The heart in his chest ached for them. If he were a father, he’d never, ever, abandon his family. Protect and provide. That is the job of a masculine male. His heavy heart sank even more, remembering he would never be able to have children of his own. A dream that could never be fulfilled. 

Realizing the gravity of their circumstance, he couldn’t help but reach out to her, placing his hand atop of hers as it rested on the floor. Her eyes glanced down at his hand, then met his gaze. Then her eyes started to water.

A look of concern washed over his face as he tilted his head to better see hers. “It’s ok, don’t cry, we’ll be out of here soon enough.” 

“It’s not just that. I try to be strong for my daughter. I have to be, there’s no one else.” Aubrey’s voice started to break apart. “He just up and left us. He wasn’t a great husband. He never wanted to be a dad. And then it happened by accident. He was mad and blamed me. I’ve been strong for so long, I don’t even remember the last time I cried.” She broke down into sobs, burying her face in her hands.

Leon’s protective instincts kicked in again, without thinking. Scooching over to her, he put his arm around her, scooping her into the nook of his arm. It took no coaxing for her to lean into him. As she gripped his shirt, crying into his chest, his heart melted. 

The sobs grew softer as he stroked her back, his cheek resting on the crown of her head. Gosh did he love the scent of her hair and the delicate perfume that trickled into his nose. 

What on earth was he doing with a selfish girl when there were strong, intelligent, calm, clear-minded women out there like Aubrey? And a young girl who needed a father figure. Someone to step up and stand up for them.

When was the last time she cried, she wondered. When was the last time she felt secure in a man’s arms? Too long. She wouldn’t have been able to remember at all if she hadn’t felt it here with Leon.

The cab fell silent again. Both of their minds whirling with thoughts, wonders, possibilities. 

Aubrey pulled from him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have cried on you. Or at all.” She wiped her face with her fingertips. “It’s embarrassing.”

He couldn’t help but notice her feminine features as the lighting illuminated her tear streaked face, and her lovely golden locks. Smiling tenderly at her, he swiped her hair from her face, brushing his fingers against the curve of her neck. “It’s ok. You don’t always have to be so strong. Someone needs to be strong for you, with you.”

She stared at him, expressionless. 

He couldn’t read her, but he was assuming she hadn’t heard those words before. “Wanna know how you enlightened me tonight?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “I learned not to worry when I have absolutely no control. I learned I have a girlfriend who is selfish and unreasonable. Among other things. At first I thought you were too bold and brazen for saying it, but it didn’t take long to figure out you are right. I learned any and all anxiety I have stems from her. I haven’t known you long, at all, but I think a person can learn a lot about another while being trapped in a power outage in an elevator. It’ll bring out a person’s truest colors. When I get out of this elevator, I will be clear-minded, and I will know what I want.”

She studied him for a brief moment. “What do you want?”

“I want to take you out on a date.” There was no hesitation. Only confidence. 

Me? Why would he want to take out a single mother who is clearly a mess? She pondered for a moment longer. “I don’t think your girlfriend would like us going out together.”

The corner of his mouth tipped up. “She’s not my girlfriend. Not anymore.”