Later, she visited a photo studio in the mall, where she had a number of old photos developed. As she sifted through them, she was struck by how much of her life Elias had occupied. Junior high, high school, college, marriage... He was in nearly every shot, a constant presence in the background of her life.
Without hesitation, Mira began to cut out every trace of him. The men in the pictures were gone, leaving only her. She couldn't bear the thought of his image lingering, especially after the surgery. After the procedure, I won’t even remember who I am. There's no need to keep him in my memories.
Once the photos were put away, Mira entered the elevator, only to find Vera already inside.
"What a coincidence," Vera said with a smile, her voice sugary sweet.
Mira didn’t respond. She pressed the button for the first floor, her eyes fixed forward, avoiding any further interaction.
Suddenly, the elevator jerked to a stop on the fifth floor. A voice crackled over the mall’s loudspeaker.
"Dear customers and friends, we apologize for the inconvenience. A fire has broken out in the mall. Please remain calm. The fire brigade has arrived and is working on emergency rescue operations..."
The air grew thick with smoke, seeping into the elevator through the narrow gaps. Vera’s face turned pale, her panic evident.
She fumbled with her phone, her hands shaking as she typed furiously. "Elias, where are you? Save me..."
But every message she sent was met with a red exclamation mark. The messages failed to send.
The smoke grew denser, the choking smell of burning filling the small space. Mira stood motionless, her expression unreadable, while Vera’s frantic breathing echoed in the elevator. The fire outside raged on, and with every passing second, the air seemed to grow heavier, more suffocating.
Mira struggled to breathe, the air thick with smoke, suffocating her. Her lungs felt as if they were being filled with heavy, swollen balloons. Every inhale was a sharp, burning sensation, and the acrid scent of smoke seemed to cling to her throat.
Vera’s frantic sobs pierced the air, her cries harsh and jarring in the confined space of the elevator. Mira closed her eyes, trying to steady herself amidst the chaos.