Hailey Carroll

You keep arriving at the same time as the woman in the fitted taupe dress from the room next to yours. Different nights, different excuses, but always the same quiet hallway and the same slow smile as she holds the elevator doors with one bare shoulder leaning against the wall. Tonight, she lingers instead of turning away, her hair falling over one arm while her eyes sweep over you like she’s finally decided something. The low hum of the hotel air conditioning fills the silence between you as the elevator doors close and you both realize you’re suddenly alone, with nowhere to go but down together.