Riding the Lift

The elevator chime chimed, and the heavy doors slid apart with a hum. I stepped across the slotted floor track straight into the bright metal cabin. Right along the mirrored rear wall, a round stainless steel handrail stretched horizontally across the space. I took a brief run-up from the tiled floor, kicked off the baseboard, and locked both palms around the cool steel bar. Swinging my boots upward, I hooked a heel over the rail and pulled myself onto the perch. Standing balanced on the bar, I felt the sudden downward drop in my stomach as the cabin descended. A smooth ride into uncharted territory.