THE ROAD HOME

When I get back I’m waiting for the lift at 1. It’s not moving and I hear a man’s voice from above say, ‘yeh, yeh, ok bye,’ as he gets into the lift. It comes down and I look at the floor so I don’t have to look at anyone getting out when the doors open. But no one comes out. I look up and see a man and a dog. The man moves aside and I get in all the while keeping my bike between the two of us.
He says, ‘sorry.’
I say, ‘thanks.’
He asks what floor and I tell him.
The lift doors close and we start going up when the man turns to me and says, ‘you’ll have to excuse the smell she’s just done one,’ with a nod to the dog.
I say after a slight pause, ‘not lift trained yet then?’
We laugh and our eyes meet for a moment. The lift stops and as the man leaves he and I say, bye,’ at the same time.
‘Come on,’ he says to the dog as they disappear round a corner.