Dialogue Story - Freed

"Oh my God. Is this elevator stuck?"

"Damn it. My floor was next."

"The button's not working. The button's not working."

"Press harder then, woman!"

"I found the emergency button. Hello? Anyone?"

"I'm running late for my meeting."

"Hello? Hello? Please answer me!"

"Hello. Are you the same person who called ten minutes ago, by any chance?"

"No, no! We're stuck in the elevator. I have to get to my baby. There's another man here. We need help!"

"I am so sorry about the issue. Your safety is our top priority. Help is on the way."

"How long will that take?"

"..."

"Hello?"

"It shouldn't take more than twenty minutes."

"Twenty minutes! Oh God, I have a sick baby upstairs."

"And I have a meeting."

"I need to call my husband. He can't leave the baby alone."

"Already checked. No use, woman."

"My name is Valerie."

"I don't care."

"Don't be heartless."

"Well, I'm not really happy about sharing my oxygen with you."

"I'm going to run out of air."

"No, you aren't."

"'The free bird leaps on the back of the wind...'"

"Shut up."

"'And floats downstream until the current ends.'"

"Shut up."

"'But a bird...a bird that stalks down his...narrow cage...'"

"What the hell?"

"'Can see through his bars of rage...his wings are clipped and his feet—'"

"You idiot. Save your air. Stop pacing. They're coming."

"Twenty-five minutes. It's been twenty-five minutes."

"Exactly."

"Call them again."

"Fine."

"Hello. I apologize for the delay. Please refrain from opening the elevator doors. Help is on the way."

"This is Sal. Are you sure they're arriving soon?"

"Yes, sir. They should be coming ten minutes at most."

"And what if they don't? Because this mother is minutes from tearing open the doors."

"I apologize again. This has happened several times this past week—"

"Now that's not something to be proud of, is it?"

"But they've all managed to exit safely. Is the mother having any medical emergencies?"

"Not at the moment. God, I'm done."

"Why'd you hang up?"

"She was no help. 'This has happened several times this week.' If I had known—"

"Do you have water?"

"What?"

"I'm thirsty as hell. Do you have water?"

"Only a bit."

"Please. I have a cup. I just need a little."

"It's warm."

"I don't care."

"Fine."

"Thank you, sir."

"Just call me Sal."

"That liar. That son of a—"

"'Stands on the grave of dreams. His shadow shouts on a...'"

"Must you recite that ridiculous poem all the time?"

"'...Nightmare scream.' Yes, I must. It's called 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.'"

"..."

"I tell it to my daughter all the time."

"I feel like a caged bird right now, I suppose."

"You don't know the meaning of the poem, do you?"

"I do not."

"How long has it been? Since we got in the elevator?"

"Almost two hours."

"I know. I just needed someone to confirm it...my head is fuzzy."

"Good God, are you crying?"

"I feel like...I feel like I haven't...seen the light in months..."

"You're a mother, for Christ's sake. Pull it together. You're going to see your kid again. I'm not dying here with you.

"..."

"I said I'm not dying here with you. Get some sleep. The elevator will be fixed soon."

"I'm not going to sleep in this thing."

"How about I let you tell that poem about that caged bird, and then you can leave me alone after."

"...Thank you, Sal."

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"'The caged bird sings with a fearful trill...

Of things unknown but longed for still

his tune is heard— on a distant hill

for the caged bird sings of freedom.'"

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