The elevator doors slid shut with a soft chime. Lisa exhaled sharply, wiping a tear before it could smudge her mascara. She had just ended things with Jake, and her heart still pounded from the argument. She tapped the button for the lobby, ready to leave it all behind.

Then, a voice. His voice.

“Hold the—”

Too late. The doors sealed, trapping her in the small, mirrored space with Jake. He cursed under his breath, jamming the lobby button. The tension between them was suffocating.

Then, with a jolt, the elevator stopped.

A muffled announcement crackled through the speaker. “Apologies for the inconvenience. We’re experiencing a temporary malfunction. Please remain calm.”

Lisa laughed bitterly. “Of course. Perfect ending to a perfect night.”

Jake ran a hand through his hair, avoiding her gaze. “Look, I didn’t mean—”

“Don’t.” She crossed her arms. “We said everything we needed to say.”

Silence. A long, aching silence.

Then, Jake sighed. “Remember the first time we got stuck in an elevator?”

Lisa glanced at him, despite herself. “Yeah.”

“First week of college,” he mused, a small, sad smile forming. “You were freaking out about missing a class. I told you I’d teach you everything if we got out.”

She let out a reluctant chuckle. “You didn’t know a thing about organic chemistry.”

“But you still passed.”

The tension softened, if only for a moment. The past tugged at them, whispering all the reasons they had once fit so perfectly.

The elevator lurched, then hummed back to life.

Jake cleared his throat. “Guess this is it, then.”

Lisa hesitated, watching the floor numbers tick down. When the doors finally opened, she stepped out first—but paused.

“Jake?” she said without turning around.

“Yeah?”

A beat. Then, “Take care.”

She walked away before she could change her mind.