“So,” Ophelia mused. “How much longer do you think we’re going to be stuck in here?”

“Seriously. It feels like we’ve been in here for about a week or more!” AJ complained.

“So, what are you going to say to Tiff when she asks why she couldn’t get in touch with you today?”

“That I was stuck in an elevator and couldn’t reach her. Simple as that. And if she has a problem with that, tough.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” Ophelia said, grinning.

“So, why don’t you stand up to her, too?”

“Because if she hears I was with you, even involuntarily, she’ll rip me to shreds. That’s why.”

“You really surprise me. You have no problem with standing up to a bunch of airheads, but you can’t get yourself to stand up against one single person.”

“Yeah, well, that’s ‘one single person’ has it out for me.”

“Fine,” AJ sighed. “I’ll talk to her and see what I can do. Maybe smooth things out a little. It’s not right that you’re having to deal with this and all.”

“It’s really no big deal. Just a few more weeks to deal with it.”

“And then what? Are you going to let her dictate who you hang out with?”

“If it’s her boyfriend, then you’re damn right I am. I’ve ticked her off enough already.”

“Well, guess what. I’m the one who chooses my friends, not her, and if I decide that I want to hang out with you and be friends with you, then she needs to put on her big girl pants and learn to accept it. You’re not acting like the Ophelia I thought I knew. The Ophelia I thought I knew wouldn’t let people dictate something like this. Hell, she probably would be friends with that person out of spite.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Ophelia said slowly. “I’ve been so worried about keeping the peace that I’ve forgotten about making myself happy once in a while. Things have been so crazy lately that… I don’t know… I just haven’t been myself. You’re right. I will talk to her and let her know I’m not going to put up with that kind of thing. I’m going to be your friend, whether she likes it or not.”

“There, now, that’s the Ophelia I know.”

“Yeah,” she murmured. “I mean, it sounds great now, but actually talking to her about it is going to be hell. She’s not going to be happy.”

“She’ll have to learn to deal with it, simple as that. Otherwise, I’ll tell her we’re through for good.”

“You’d end things with her over that? Harsh.”


“She needs to learn that it’s not all about her. Other people matter, too. There’s a lot I’m willing to put up with, but not this.”

“But what if she gets mad? She might take it out on me.”

“If that happens, come let me know,” AJ said firmly. “Her happiness shouldn’t come at the expense of others’.”

He bowed his head, looking down at their hands, which had been just barely touching for the past few minutes. Should I? he thought. Do I dare disturb the universe? Bit by bit, with agonizing slowness, he moved his hands closer and closer, until he was holding her hands, but loosely enough for her to pull away at any time. He looked up, expecting a slap or a sharp word, but neither came, and Ophelia did not pull away from her touch.

“H-hey,” Ophelia stammered, “if Tiff saw this, she’d be really angry. Maybe you shouldn’t.” But she didn’t move away, despite her words.


“Yeah?” AJ asked, feeling brave, at least for the moment. “Then what would she do about this? Kill me?” And with that, he took one of her hands and briefly pressed his lips to it.

“Yeah, she’d definitely kill you,” Ophelia said quietly. “Kill me, too, no doubt.”

“Well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” AJ replied.

“I really wish the power would come back on.”

As though on cue, the lights in the elevator flickered briefly, then came back on, and the elevator resumed its journey upward. Ophelia and AJ looked at each other, astonished, and laughed.

“Hey, if I knew that would have happened, I would have told you to say that way back when the power first went out,” AJ joked.


They stepped out onto the second floor of the department store and looked around at the people. With a shrug, Ophelia remarked, “You know, maybe Emily wouldn’t want anything from here.”

“Yeah, I guess it was kind of stupid to come here. She’d probably like something from that store down the street.”

“Yeah. Okay, I think I’ll go there instead to get her birthday present.”

“Good idea,” AJ replied. Then, he chuckled and added, “And you can let go of my hand anytime now.”

“Oh,” Ophelia said, finally releasing his hand.