Moments

They said it was some sort of threshold. Some called it a portal, as if to another space. 

Nobody dared, until one woman just went thru and disappeared. Thirty anguished minutes later, they all remained silent, some feared that the worst happened. 

But, suddenly she reappeared, smiling, gliding in her stride. They all broke out at once in a frantic, senseless clamor, so the brave woman spoke: "No need for your questions, folks, I'm returning just as I left you, since only a few moments passed. Yet, you all look so astonished, like I've returned from some far away hell zone." 

A man spoke up, "It was far longer than moments, ma'am, we're glad you're no worse off." The woman's smile softened. She wondered what he meant by longer. Had she not just left? But, she then recalled a certain detail, a distinct memory of a chilled, empty air all around her, and the coldest, oddest quiet.