When I tell this story it doesn't sound all that scary, but at the time I thought I would die or give birth.
Spring '06 I was holding an open house for a fellow agent. There were two brand new homes side by side that were vacant. It was nice out so I opened the windows and let the breeze in. I was also 7 1/2 months pregnant.
The first of two hours go by with no traffic and I had to go to the bathroom. There was a powder room on the first floor near the front door. I noticed the handle was missing but the mechanism was still in place. I didn't think anything of it and went in. I closed the door just a bit in case someone came through. The only thing that came through the vacant 2-story that day was a gust of wind which sucked the door shut! No biggie, I thought to myself, I had opened doors where the handle had fallen off before, I knew I just needed to fidget with the mechanism and I was free.
I wash my hands and tried door. No success. I am an active SCUBA diver and am good at calming myself down 60+ feet below water. I calmed myself down, splashed some water on my face and I tried a little more to get the door to open. Still no luck. I PANICKED! I looked around this 5x5 powder room to see what i could use to get out. The mirror, the towel bar, the toilet paper holder, a toilet and sink- none of these would help me break down this door. I was ready to start busting through drywall and insulation to get out.
I remembered that there were a few neighbors out so I sat down and started screaming "HELP, somebody help me" through the hole where the handle SHOULD HAVE BEEN. That didn't work so I yelled "FIRE" and still no response. Why not use my cell phone and call for help you ask?! That would have been smart except I left it on the counter as I didn't think I would need it to help me run in to go tinkle.
I tried using my name tag to fidget with the door, I even thought about trying to take the hinge pins out to remove the door but they wouldn't budge. I finally took off my brand new heels and started using the heel to claw at the mechanism in the hole that had me locked in this powder room. It worked and there wasn't much damage to the shoe so they could be worn again!
It's amazing how 20 minutes trapped in a powder room gets your mind thinking. I called the agent and my husband to let them know what just happened and that I was going home. I was shaking, I was crying, I had mascara streaks down my face. I thought for sure I was going to die or have a baby in that room. Had there been someone that lived there I think I would have been OK knowing they would soon be home.
Needless to say I check the doors now and ALWAYS take my phone with me. I also let my husband know where I will be and if I am not back in a certain amount of time to come looking for me.
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