Lifting

Kevin Childs

"Wait" I yell. I rush forward my shopping bags bashing against my legs. Then the door closes. I hate lifts when they're this crowded. I adjust my hair in the mirrored walls then look at the other people's reflections. There's an old couple, a young mother and her son, and a man standing at the back. My heart gives a flutter; did he just wink at me?

"Mummy can I see what presents you got me?"

"No they're for Christmas."

The old couple smile and chuckle. The lift stops and they shuffle out. The lift door closes.

'I thought Santa brings my presents."

"He does but I help him out"

The lift doors open, the mother and boy walk out and the lift rumbles up. Suddenly there's a jolt, the sound of metal against metal grinds and scrapes at my ears. Then the lift stops. My heart races, an aching in my chest. I feel my stomach. It feels like I've got a feather trapped inside, tiggling me, though it isn't nice. "Oh god," I say, "It's stuck. How do we get out."

"Try the emergency button." the man says. It's only us now.

"I'm trying. The buttons don't work" I said, mashing my index finger into the yellow bell picture. "I wish they installed some new lifts for this shopping centre.

"I know. These have been here since I was a boy."

I turn on him scowling. "How long do you think we'll be stuck up here?" I say. He really is handsome; even now I can appreciate his looks. Black hair parted in the middle, slender face, blue eyes.

"It will probably only be a few minutes. They probably know the lift's broken and are probably fixing it right now."

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"I don't want to rest all my hopes on probably." I snap. "Oh god" I say as I try to prise the door open.

"I wouldn't do that" the man says.

"Have you got a better idea?"

"Listen, we're probably stuck between floors." I feel the knot tighten in my stomach like a lasso catching hold of its target. I take a deep breath then breathe out, a loud whoosh. I then sit down, my head in my hands.

"Don't worry." The man places a hand on my shoulder. I feel uncomfortable. "I'm OK" I murmur. "What makes you so calm anyway?"

"Because I know I'm going to get out We may as well not get upset over it. I hate it when girls get upset.

"Why. Have you made a lot of them cry?"

The man frowns at me. "I'm Andy" he finally says.

"I'm Kristen," I reply "You don't look like an Andy, you look more like a Richard.

"OK, I'll take that as a compliment."

"Are you sure we'll get out of here. What if we're stuck here all the night?"

"We'll be fine," Andy says. We sit in silence for a few minutes. Andy broke the silence.

'Did you buy anything interesting?"

"No. A dress for me and a computer game for my nephew. What about you?"

"A book. Can I see the dress."

I feel my eyes widen in surprise. Then a stab of worry. The hairs on my arms prick up. "Sure," I say. I hand him the bag. He opens the bag like a child unwrapping a christmas present, then pulls out the dress. He runs his hands over it slowly, his eyes burning holes into it. He smiled. "I'd love to see you in this."

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"Yeah," I reply. I feel the hole dig in my mind a little deeper and the feeling of fear increase. Like when an animal is being watched by sensing it. I sense something wrong here.

"Where do you work?" Andy said. the tone in his voice had changed.

I could not answer. I could tell him to mind his own business but I humour him. "At the moment I'm working as a waitress down at Riverview Hotel. It's not much but I'm taking an English Lit degree at the university."

"I think I recognise you. I've seen you walking to work from my car."

I feel a tidal wave of fear crash over me. I bite my lower lip, my heart seems to be missing beats.

"Your uniform is sexy." Andy says smiling.

I feel my stomach give a gut wrenching twist. Who was this guy, how does he know about me? I have to get out. I stand up trying to look casual; why is he looking at me like that.

"Don't be frightened, I watch you from my car. It's that battered old Peugeot parked up the street" he says, chuckling slightly. "I know where you live. It's that house with the red garage."

"What?" I murmur. although I know what is happening I feel sick. The anxiety feels like my stomach's lined with glass; it scrapes at me. Help me God Im stuck in this lift. I turn away from his eyes but I can still see him looking at me inquisitively , like a dog wanting to know what you're going to do next. Curiosity and something more. I feel my mouth open and close. I want to speak, to say something to get me out of this situation. The anxiety coils round me like an electric cable. "You know where I live," I say quietly.

"Don't be frightened," Andy says. He climbs to his feet and takes off his jacket. "Phew, its hot in here." he says, then I feel him touch my hand with his. I let out a cry and feel myself beginning to shake. My mouth is dry. My breath comes out in gasps. I mash the emergency button. "Help" I scream.

"Don't scream, I don't like that," he says. I detect a hint of venom in his voice like a crouching cat waiting for its prey. "I think I love you" Andy says. He laughs a nervous chuckle. "I really do; I'd be much better than that arrogant prick who's your boyfriend."

"No. Leave me alone" I whimper. My face feels burning hot. Is it fear, embarrassment or what? I feel sick, like something's lodged in my throat travelling all the way down to my stomach.

"Leave me alone," I repeat. It's meant to sound stern but it comes out weak and trembling.

"Don't get upset," Andy says through gritted teeth. I see his reflection in the wall - he's smiling still - no, he's leering. He comes closer to me. I wish I could run but I mustn't show my fear. My heart seems to be lodged somewhere in my throat, like a golf ball stuck down there. I can feel his body against mine. I let out a weak cry, I feel his breath warm, down my neck.

"Get off" I scream as he wraps an arm round my waist. Suddenly the lift roars back to life. Andy holds his face against mine his breath is hot and sour. I can see individual droplets of sweat on his forehead. I've never been so scared in my life. Then the doors open. I wait, him holding me, then he releases me. I walk out slowly, tears welling in my eyes. The lift door starts to close. "Wait" he yells but the lift has gone. I don't know what he wanted when he called out, I don't want to know. I run back to the car. Then I remember that I've left the shopping in the lift. And my handbag with my purse and address.

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