Later, she visited a photo studio in the mall, where she had a number of old photos developed. As she sifted through them, she was struck by how much of her life Elias had occupied. Junior high, high school, college, marriage... He was in nearly every shot, a constant presence in the background of her life.
Without hesitation, Mira began to cut out every trace of him. The men in the pictures were gone, leaving only her. She couldn't bear the thought of his image lingering, especially after the surgery. After the procedure, I won’t even remember who I am. There's no need to keep him in my memories.
Once the photos were put away, Mira entered the elevator, only to find Vera already inside.
"What a coincidence," Vera said with a smile, her voice sugary sweet.
Mira didn’t respond. She pressed the button for the first floor, her eyes fixed forward, avoiding any further interaction.
Suddenly, the elevator jerked to a stop on the fifth floor. A voice crackled over the mall’s loudspeaker.
"Dear customers and friends, we apologize for the inconvenience. A fire has broken out in the mall. Please remain calm. The fire brigade has arrived and is working on emergency rescue operations..."