Elevator Music

[J.M.Byrnes]

This works for me. I'm going to throw something out there -- how about "carpeted" silence? It might work in the same way from a tactile standpoint, but may also suggest something suppressed or covered over.

at the sight of another missed opportunity.

I think the problem here is "sight." It's really more about a recognition or realization, I think -- although those would be too clunky. I guess the line would be too short, but you could almost just say "another missed opportunity."

Nice work.