Endless Hallway Leads to a Grocery‑Store High School Elevator

Endless Hallway Leads to a Grocery‑Store High School Elevator

I woke up late for work and rushed out of the apartment, but the hallway in my building stretched forever. Every door I passed was a copy of my neighbor's kitchen, all with the same chipped blue mug on the counter. I finally reached the elevator, but it only opened onto a grocery store aisle instead of the lobby. I grabbed a basket, tried to find the exit, and realized the store was my old high school cafeteria, the same fluorescent lights and the same lunch lady who always gave me extra peas. She smiled, then handed me a key I didn't recognize. I ran to the locker I thought was mine, but the combination was wrong and the lock clicked open on its own, revealing a small envelope with my name on it. Inside was a boarding pass for a flight I never booked. I woke up just as I was about to hand the pass to the security guard, heart pounding, wondering why I was supposed to leave the city at all.