Chapter 14
I trudged up the stairs to the first floor. I turned the corner in the lobby and squinted at the remaining flights. Lena worked in the administrative offices on the fifth floor. I just didn’t think Ihad the energy to make the climb, though it was usually something I did without thought. I didn’t normally like to take the elevator—I was always afraid of getting stuck—but I didn’t think I had much choice. I’d never make it up and back down again without needing a nap somewhere around the third floor.
Anxiety caused a surge of adrenaline. I hated being confined in the elevator, and I spent the entire time half certain it was going to stall between floors. By the time I stepped off into the fifth floor hallway, I was a little more alert. It was easy enough to walk to the other end and stick my head into Lena’s office.
She looked up, smiled, then turned serious. “Julian, honey, what the hell is the matter with you?”