A Stuck Elevator After Work

After his late shift at the hospital, Ben wanted only one thing: to get home and eat dinner. Ben is a cleaner, and his feet were tired. He walked to the parking garage and pressed the elevator button. A woman with a grocery bag stepped in with him. The doors closed, the elevator moved, and then it stopped with a small shake. The lights stayed on, but the numbers did not change. Ben tried the buttons again. Nothing happened. The woman looked worried. “Is this normal?” she asked. “I don’t know,” Ben said. He took a slow breath. “But we can call for help.” He pressed the alarm button. It made a loud sound, but no one came. Then Ben saw the phone inside the elevator. He picked it up and listened. A calm voice answered. “This is security. What’s the problem?” “We are stuck between floors,” Ben said. Security asked for their names and told them to stay inside. Ben told the woman, “They will send a technician.” The woman nodded and sat on the floor. Ben stayed standing and tried to keep the air calm. To pass time, he asked her about the groceries. She said she was buying food for her father’s birthday. Ben smiled and said, “That sounds nice.” After about ten minutes, they heard a metal sound above them. The elevator moved a little, and the doors opened on the next floor. A technician held the doors and said, “You’re safe. Please step out slowly.” Ben thanked him. The woman said, “Thank you for staying calm.” Ben walked to his car and finally felt lighter. The delay was annoying, but he was happy they were okay.