Indecision
He stood just inside the door to his apartment. The footsteps approached, stopped. He waited. She did not touch the control pad. She did not announce herself. The footsteps receded. Was she leaving? He did not want her to leave.
The footsteps stopped. He waited, not breathing. The footsteps approached again. Still she did not enter. There was a long pause. 45.96 seconds. The footsteps receded again. This was agony.
The footsteps stopped. After what seemed an eternity but was only 20.76 seconds, the footsteps returned. There was no sound from the other side of the door. Perhaps something was expected from him? No, she could not know that he waited, so close, breath held, for her decision.
The footsteps receded again, quicker, further. He began to die. The footsteps paused. Perhaps...? Then resumed again, growing fainter. No, Nyota, do not walk away from me! His life turned to ashes. The footsteps stopped, then started again, faster, louder. The door opened and she was there. He began to live again.