An Unexpected Pause in the Morning Routine
A man steps off an elevator, his dark dress shoes clicking against the clean, quiet floor of the corridor.
He carries a black briefcase in his left hand, walking past dark doorframes and long glass panels that reflect the early morning light.
Instead of making his way toward his assigned office door, he turns down a quiet hallway toward a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city below.
Every single morning, Marcus follows this exact same routine without variation or delay.
He deliberately presses the button for a floor where he has no office, steps out into the empty hallway, and walks away from the busy environment waiting elsewhere in the building.
To anyone watching his movement from the elevators, the detour seems like an unnecessary delay in a fast-paced work day.
He walks smoothly along the wall, his coat unbuttoned, carrying his bag with an unhurried grip.
The hallway is completely empty, free of early meetings or ringing phones.
An Unanswered Question in the Hallway
A woman wearing a deep maroon blouse walks into the hallway, her footsteps matching his pace from behind.
She pauses a few yards away, her eyes resting on his posture as he stands near the window frame.
She watches him closely, curiosity evident in the way she holds her hands gathered together in front of her dark pants.
For weeks, she has noticed him exiting on this floor long before his actual workday begins.
She takes three steps closer to him and stops, tilting her head toward the glass.
“Marcus, why do you keep doing that?” she asks, her voice breaking the quiet hallway air.
Marcus turns his head slightly, keeping his briefcase rested by his side as he looks back over his shoulder.
He looks at her for a moment before turning his eyes back toward the sprawling city line visible through the glass.
A Moment of Quiet Reflection
“I just need a quiet minute before work begins,” Marcus says, his tone steady and clear.
He turns fully toward the expansive window pane, taking a deep breath that raises his chest slightly.
His fingers shift slightly on the leather handle of his bag as he opens his palms downward.
He closes his eyes briefly, leaning slightly toward the sunlight streaming through the window frame.
“Lord, give me wisdom today,” he speaks softly toward the windowpane, his mouth moving slowly.
“And help me be patient with people.”
The woman stands behind him, her gaze shifting from his shoulders out toward the skyline beyond.
Her hands unclasp slowly, resting at her sides as she takes a quiet breath of her own in the corridor.
She stays completely still, allowing the words to rest in the air between them.
The constant buzz of office life remains completely separated from this isolated corner of the upper floor.
Walking Forward Together
She steps forward until she stands directly beside him, looking out at the morning sky through the glass.
“Need a quiet minute too?” she asks, looking at the view beside him.
She smiles slightly, her eyes watching the city traffic moving far below.
“Actually, I do,” she adds softly, turning her face toward the light.
Marcus nods, a gentle expression softening his face as he prepares to turn back toward the hallway.
“Sometimes faith isn’t loud,” Marcus says, turning his body toward the direction of the elevators.
“It’s simply the moment we pause before we respond.”
She turns alongside him, adjusting her briefcase as she aligns her stride with his steps.
They walk down the long carpeted hallway side by side, their shadows stretching across the floor as they head back toward the elevator doors.
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