short stories

elevator ride

I speedwalked into the elevator as it closed. I was about to be late for work again for the fourth time this week, inside the elevator was one lone person, he was tall and ginger and he was quiet. We stood there with silence wrapping around us until."Rumble" We both looked at each other "Uh" was all I got out before the elevator suddenly dropped. we started rushing down.Screaming filled the once-silent elevatorOnce the elevator stopped moving we stood along the edge holding the wall and catching our breath. Fear ran through meI started banging against the door hoping it would open with force, the man also joined in, we screamed and yelled and pounded on that door all night until early morning."Where is everyone" I asked no one in particularThe man groans and slides down the wall "I'm Sam by the way" he says after a bit "Oh I'm Rachel"We spent a while talking about everything and nothing, i told him about my kids at home he told me about his crazy ex-girlfriend. We laughed and cried together.After a while, we both got back up again and started banging on the door once again. No response."It has been a long time," I say as my head lays in his lap "Too long he responds"I don't know how long it's been, has someone fed my children after they came back from school, has someone noticed we were gone, how long will it take?We sit there starving, thirsty, and smelly "Hey Sam if I don't get out of here will you take care of my children?" I asked my voice cracking "I will be the best caretaker ever" he responded with a laughToo long, it's been too long. I take a breath and let it out closing my eyes."Rachel, Rachel you gotta wake up." After 4 weeks the firefighters removed the ruble from the building that collapsed with the earthquake and there alone sat an elevator inside was to people a man and a woman both with no heartbeats.And alone in a house not far away were 2 kids age 8 cuddled together destined to not wake up.