When the doors finally opened, I stumbled out into the mall and collapsed onto a nearby bench

As told to Devorah Grant

The first time “it” happened, I was in the mall with my friend Dassa, looking for clothes for camp. I desperately needed some new hoodies and camp shirts, while Dassa was on a mission to find The Most Comfortable Sneakers Ever. (Spoiler alert: You don’t know if they’re actually the most comfortable until you’ve tried on every single pair of sneakers created. Which is why three hours later, we were still standing amongst rows of sneakers staring balefully back at us.) Eventually, after trailing around after Dassa, advising her that no, the neon pink weren’t too flashy, and yes, the black ones were too boyish, I decided I was going to do some window shopping.

“You okay if I leave you for 20 minutes, Dass?” I asked. Dassa told me it was fine, and she’d call me when she found her perfect pair. I rolled my eyes and stepped out into the brightly lit mall.

Strolling along the upper floor, my eyes noticed a jewelry store on the floor below. I’ve always had a soft spot for watches, especially expensive ones, and the white lighting and sparkles in the window beckoned me down. I found the elevator, and entered, alone. The doors closed and the elevator slowly made its way downwards.

That’s when it began.

I looked at the closed doors, and from one moment to the next, literally lost it. First, I started to imagine myself being trapped in that tiny metal box, suspended between floors, forever and ever. I tried to tell myself I was being stupid, but the thoughts raced much, much faster than any logic could. Without warning I felt my breathing becoming shallow and ragged. I could hear my heart crashing within. I’m going to die, I thought. I gripped tightly to a metal pole. Ground floor, the elevator’s nasal voice chimed. In my eagerness to just get out of there, I jabbed at the wrong button twice, and waited several agonizing seconds for the doors to open and release me from the prison of an elevator.

When the doors finally opened, I stumbled out into the mall and collapsed onto a nearby bench.