The elevator doors hissed shut, enclosing us in the quiet, carpeted space. The only sound was the soft hum of the machinery and the girl's continued dabbing at her hoodie. She finally stopped, looking at the bright orange splotches with a resigned sigh.
"So," I began gently, "you don't know your brother's name or department? That might make it a little tricky to find him in a building this size."
"Mm." She simply said.
"Oookaayyy." I said as I watched her, waiting for her to reach out and press a button, but her hand remained still, as it is now tucked into the pocket of her jeans.
"You can press your brother's floor whenever you're ready," I prompted again, gently.
"Mm." Her non-answer was more a sound than a word. She didn't move.
"Not your stop?" I asked when we passed the 20th floor.
"No."
We kept climbing.
We passed the twenty seconnd floor. Then the twenty-ninth. Then the thirty-fourth.
"How about now?" I asked with a small smile, hoping to nudge her.
