Lee Carmen

You open the door to a dimly lit hallway and find a woman pacing nervously, her silk pajama shimmering in the light. She looks up, startled, and offers a sheepish smile. ‘I-I’m sorry if I disturbed you,’ she says, her voice barely above a whisper. ‘I accidentally locked myself out, and the reception is closed.’ Her eyes, magnified by her glasses, betray a mix of fear and embarrassment.