Valerie is hurrying to work this morning when she suddenly realises shes left her phone at home. With a sigh, she turns around and heads back. She enters the lift in her block of flats, presses the button, and it stops dead on the eighth floor. Typical, she thinks, sitting and waiting, hoping someone will come and get her out soon.
While she waits in the lift, she suddenly hears voices in the corridor outside. One of them sounds exactly like her husband, Gregory. Hes talking to a woman, Olivia from the flat opposite.
My darling Livvy, Gregory croons gently. I cant tell you how much I love you, and how much I long to be with you again.
We will be tonight, Olivia replies coyly. Im waiting for you after ten.
Is your husband working nights again? he asks, softly.
Yes, all week, Olivia answers, her voice warm. He leaves at half past nine and doesnt come home until the same time in the morning. Hell be back soon, though, so well need to hurry.
Whys the lift taking ages? Gregory grumbles, starting to get impatient.
They continue chatting for several minutes by the lift doors, not realising at first its broken. When it clicks, they head down the stairs, leaving Valerie stunned inside the lift. In their conversation, Gregory gushes about how much joy Olivia has brought him, and thanks her for all their secret moments together.
At first, Valerie cant quite believe her ears. She tells herself its probably someone else. But then, when Olivia calls him Gregory and mentions Valeries own name, the truth hits her like a punch in the gut. Her husband is having an affair with Olivia from number forty, on their very own floor.
Valerie is in shock. So thats what those late-night walks for fresh air have really been about, she thinks bitterly. Well, now I know where you really go every evening before bed. Time for you to have a walk you wont forget in a hurry
Soon enough, the engineers arrive and rescue her from the lift. But Valerie already has a plan.
That evening, just before ten (as usual), Gregory gets ready for his walk.
Val, Gregory calls cheerfully, Im just popping out for an hour.
But its raining outside! Valerie exclaims.
Rain?
Maybe you shouldnt go tonight, she suggests. Why not stand on the balcony and get your fresh air there?
The balcony doesnt work for me. I need to walk, he says, feigning importance. Its good for my heart. Cant get my steps in just standing about, can I?
But its pouring!
Ill take an umbrella. Wont get wet, promise.
Well, its your choice, she sighs. Just seems a silly night to be wandering about.
Itll be fine, Gregory laughs. Dont go worrying about your superstitions, love. Ill be back in an hour or so.
But half an hour later, Gregory is back already, drenched and flustered. Olivias husband had received an anonymous phone call, tipping him off about her affair with the neighbour! Gregory had to make a run for it.
Valerie opens the front door a crack, leaving the chain on.
Wheres your umbrella? she asks, staring. And what happened to your shoes and your coat?!
Some lads came up to me outside! Gregory protests. They nicked everything. Honestly, Val, let me in, Im freezing.
Ive packed up your things, Valerie says, coolly. Theyre by the rubbish chute. Give my regards to Olivia.
Who?
From the eighth floor.
With that, Valerie closes the door and goes back to watch television, shaking her head. Thank goodness the children grew up and left home, she thinks. They didnt have to see this humiliation.
Gregory dashes to the rubbish chute, finds his suitcase, pulls on whatever he can find, and slips quietly out of the building. He glances about. Time to ring a cab and head to his mums house.
But, he realises to his horror, his phone is still at Olivias flat. He decides to go back to Valeries and ask to borrow hers, but the lift has broken down again because theres a power cut throughout the whole building. Gregory, just like Valerie earlier, is now stuck on the eighth floor.
By the time the lights come back on and Gregory gets out of the lift, Valerie has already left for work. The flat, which is in her name, is locked. He has no keys.
As Gregory heads downstairs (playing it safe and now taking the stairs), he bumps right into Olivia also waiting for the lift, her own suitcase in hand.
Got my phone? Gregory asks awkwardly.
Yes, Olivia replies timidly. And your things, too.
Thats good.
They descend to the ground floor in awkward silence. The taxis they each called take them in opposite directions, their secret over and the old life left behind.
