text: Running through the ten-story office building's glass doors, Mandy pulled her cellphone from her purse to check the time. “Crap,” she muttered. She had less than five minutes until the meeting started, which left her with two choices. Take the stairs as usual, but at a sprint, and arrive a sweaty mess. She could swallow her claustrophobia and get into the tiny, rickety elevator. Easy choice, right? More like no choice. She couldn’t be late again. Her hand shook slightly as she pressed the elevator button. When the door opened, she took a deep breath and stepped inside. Sixty-seconds. That was all this ride from hell would take. Sixty-seconds. She repeated the mantra over and over. At this rate, she’d still arrive a sweaty mess, but stinking of fear instead of exercise. Which is wor-- Her heart stopped at the same time the box of death halted. “Are you kidding me,” she whispered-choked, pulling out her phone and dialing her friend and colleague, Theo. He picked up on the first ring. “I see you’re running late again, but lucky for you the power goes out with the same frequency as your tardiness,” he teased cheerfully. “Ah, the joys of working in an old building with shoddy wiring.” “No. No, it isn’t good,” she replied, too distraught to care that her voice trembled. “I’m in the elevator.” “Wait. Why? I thought you hated small spaces and always took the stairs?” “I was late to the last meeting. I couldn’t risk it so soon,” She croaked, leaning on the wall before sliding to the dirty floor. He called to someone in the office, asking how long until the power was back on. After a moment, he said to her, “The electrician says it will take twenty minutes, max.” She shook her head, unable to speak. It might as well be twenty years. “Mandy,” Theo called, worried threaded in his voice. “Are you still there?” “This is stupid, I know. A dumb, irrational fear, but,” She ran a hand through her once perfect hair, “I swear, the walls are closing in on me.” “Shut your eyes,” Theo demanded. Her soft-spoken friend never commanded. That, and his gorgeous smile were the two things she adored about him the most. However, today she appreciated the unexpected distraction and complied. “Okay, did it. Now what?” “Where is the one place you’ve always wanted to go?” She answered without hesitation. “Iceland.” “Really,” he laughed, the timber soothing. “Your dream vacation is a block of ice?” “Only about ten percent of the country is covered in ice, and the average temperature is quite pleasant,” she said through a smile. “Well, I stand corrected, Ms. National Geographic,” he chuckled. “What is the first thing you’d visit or do?” “Go hiking at Snæfellsjökull National Park or Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. No. Wait. I’d swim in the Blue Lagoon.” “Tell me about the Lagoon as if you are there. I want all the details. Using all your senses.” “Okay.” She thought about it, diving into her imagination and traveling daydreams. “The waters are hot, but the cool outside air makes it pleasant. The color of the water is a stunning, vibrant turquoise.” He cut in. “Like that necklace you always wear?” Her hand slid absently to the pendant nestled between her breasts. “You noticed?” “Yes. It is pretty, and is nearly the same color as your eyes.” It surprised her that he noticed minor details about her. She liked it. A lot. However, before she could ponder the meaning behind his words, he asked another question. “What got you interested in this tiny country?” “Well, there was this band I began to listen to a few years back. I thought they were from the US but learned that wasn’t true.” She told Theo about her favorite group and how their music and history led to her falling for their country. She found herself laughing at his silly questions, lost in his soothing voice, far from Detroit and her office’s tiny elevator. That last thought slammed into her. She gasped, opening her eyes, taking in the chrome and glass of her prison. “Mandy,” Theo called, sounding far away, wrapped in fog. “Did you open your eyes and leave Iceland?” She nodded, managing to speak over her racing heart. “Yup.” “Close them, and listen to me.” “I can’t.” “Yes you can, and you will do it. Now,” he demanded. Like before, something in his voice made her listen. “Fine. Bossy-pants,” she muttered, convinced his tricks wouldn’t work again. “Okay,” he began, “Money is not an option, but now you have to return to the US, where would you go?” “Um.” She tried to think, but the heavy press of panic on her chest made it difficult. “Can’t decide? Then let me guess.” After a few ticks of silence, he said, “Oregon.” All the video and pictures from her trip there two years ago bloomed beneath her lids, managing to calm her a little. “How did you know? I’ve been there, and I’m saving to go again.” “I’ve also been too. I went with my family as a teenager. I recognized the pictures on your computer. The background is of Multnomah Falls. Your screensaver is a photo of Crater Lake. Plus,” She could clearly picture the teasing tilt of his smile. “You’re always going on and on about hiking. I figured my beautiful colleague was a granola-tree hugger and had either visited Oregon or was planning on it.” “Hey!” She laughed. “Wait. Beautiful...” He cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah. I wasn’t supposed to say that part out loud.” So, her attraction wasn’t one-sided. Interesting. From the old building's belly, there was a groan. Then the lights flickered twice before staying one. The elevator shook before returning to its gentle glide to the sixth floor. Mandy whooped, as Theo called, “Electricity is on!” She opened her eyes and stood. Still holding her phone to her ear, she waited for the door to open. Less than thirty seconds later they did, and Theo was waiting on the other side. The man who gave her courage when she’d lost all hers to fears and phobias. Now that she had it back, she dropped her cell inside her purse and took the four steps to him. Gently holding on to the side of his face, she stood on her tip-toes and kissed him.