143: In the Depths

The silence that hung between Alex and Emma in the elevator's darkness felt thicker than the air itself. Alex's heart sank as Emma's silence stretched on, her non-response a clear rejection of his plea for another chance. "Understood," Alex finally whispered, the disappointment evident in his voice. "Let's shift the focus, shall we?" Trying to change the mood, Alex searched for a topic, anything that might ease the tension, but found himself at a loss for words. "What's on your mind?" Emma asked, her voice quivering slightly, betraying her nervousness amidst their precarious situation. "I want to talk about everything and anything with you, but I fear it might upset you more. I want to find topics you'd enjoy, but... I realize I don't actually know what you like," Alex confessed, his voice laced with remorse. In that moment, Alex painfully acknowledged his ignorance of Emma's preferences, her dislikes, her fears, and her joys. Emma hesitated for a moment before openin