Valentina Was Heading to Work When She Suddenly Realised She’d Left Her Phone at Home—She Decided to Go Back, Stepped Into the Lift, and Then…

8th March

What an odd, unsettling day its been. I woke this morning in a hurry, barely finished my tea before dashing out, only to realise just as I was locking the front door that Id left my mobile at home. Irritated with myself, I went back in, entered the lift as usual, and the thing shuddered to a stop on the eighth floor. Just my luck.

So there I was, trapped in the lift, left with nothing to do but count the minutes and hope the engineer would arrive quickly. Thats when I heard voices through the crack of the lift doors unmistakably, my husband, Gregorys, was among them. He was speaking softly to a woman not me, but Pamela from number forty, I soon realised.

My love, Pamela, he said, so tenderly it made my stomach twist, I cant wait until were together again.

Tonight then, she replied, not the least bit hesitant, after ten, Ill be waiting.

Is your husband on the night shift again? Gregory whispered.

All week, Pamela replied, as if it was all perfectly ordinary. He leaves at half nine and gets back just before dawn. Well have to hurry, though. Hell pop back for his umbrella soon if this rain keeps up.

Gregory sighed. Why is the lift taking so long today?

They loitered outside the doors, perhaps for four or five minutes, while I kept eerily silent behind a steel partition. From their conversation, their affection and the mention of my name, it became all too clear: my Gregory was seeing someone else with our own neighbour, no less.

So this is what his little evening strolls were for, I thought bitterly. All that nonsense about getting fresh air before bed, and not once had I doubted him until now. I listened, motionless, my mind churning and then a plan began to take shape, cold but sharp.

Eventually, the engineers arrived with their tools and freed me from that stuffy prison. By then, I wasnt upset I was almost calm.

It was about ten oclock when Gregory, as usual, decided he would go for his nightly stretch of the legs.

Val, he called out, Im stepping out for an hour.

But its raining cats and dogs! I tried to sound surprised.

A spot of rain never hurt anyone.

You could just get some air on the balcony?

He shook his head. I need to keep moving. Doctors advice for the old ticker. Standing about wont do.

At least take an umbrella, then.

I will, dont fuss.

As he left, I warned, Its not your night tonight, Greg.

Dont start with your superstitions again, Val. Be back soon, he replied.

But it wasnt long before he was back only thirty minutes later, soaking wet, breathless and pale as chalk. Someone, apparently, had phoned Pamelas husband. The man returned unexpectedly, catching Gregory who had to flee out the back in such a hurry he left both his shoes and coat behind.

Gregory rattled the chain on the door as I cracked it open. Wheres your umbrella? And your shoes, for heavens sake?

I was mugged! Can you believe that? Out there in the street! Im freezinglet me in, please.

Ive packed your things, Greg. Theyre by the bin chute at the bottom of the building. Best you say hello to Pamela while youre down there.

He looked stunned. Which Pamela?

The one on the eighth floor you know exactly whom I mean.

I shut the door and went straight to the living room, flicking on the telly, refusing to let him in. Thank goodness the kids are grown and gone now, I thought. At least theyre spared this embarrassment.

Gregory dashed down to the bin chute, grabbed his case, got himself dressed, and decided to ring a taxi to go to his mums. Only then did he realise his mobile had been left in Pamelas flat.

He returned and knocked, intending to ask for mine, but the lift as luck would have it failed again, trapping him on the eighth floor this time. The whole building was without power, just as it had been earlier for me. And there, as he impatiently waited, he ran into Pamela, suitcase in hand as well.

She blinked, flustered. Gregory, have you seen my phone? And your things are here, too.

Brilliant Gregory muttered.

Eventually, the power returned and the lifts ground into action. As the doors opened on the ground floor, a taxi whisked me off to work, Gregory and Pamela disappeared in different directions, and the drama of the day for now closed its curtain.

What an exhausting day for an ordinary Wednesday in London.