Seven Strangers

 

There were seven of them and so far, nobody had said a word.  They were just standing there like statues, all eyes looking at the man with his finger on the button.  They could see he was nervous.  Beads of sweat on his face, more than normal.  Maybe looking like someone who was sick.  Was he going to do it, was he really going to push it?

He looked around at their faces.  His eyes stopped when he came to the man in the business suit.  Then he cleared his throat and said, “What about you?”

 

The businessman looked annoyed.  “Five.”

 

The man with his finger on the button swallowed hard, closed his eyes and pushed on the button.  All seven of them could feel it.  One lady let out a little squeak.  Two others looked at her.  When they came to a stop on five, the businessman stepped off and the doors once again slid closed.

 

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