The Elevator

Martin suffers from claustrophobia

Martin suffers from claustrophobia, which means an intense fear of confined spaces. The small, old, dim, and unreliable elevator becomes especially fr

Suspense is built step by step

Suspense is built step by step. The first encounter with the woman, Martin's attempts to avoid the elevator, his injury, and his father's departure al

The fat woman in the green

The fat woman in the green coat is large, heavyset, silent, and watchful. She stares at Martin without explanation and finally traps him in the elevat

Martin tries to escape his fear

Martin tries to escape his fear by taking the stairs, but this leads to injury and makes him completely dependent on the elevator.

The story ends with the line

The story ends with the line, 'Hello, Martin.' No explanation is given about the woman, her motive, or how she knows his name.