I’m Always in the Elevator

Caption reads, "My neighbor offered me grapefruits from his tree but I can't eat grapefruit because it interacts with my medication." Below the caption is an illustrated image of a sliced grapefruit.
Caption reads, "I credit my meds with saving my life." Below the caption is an illustrated image of a prescription pill bottle on its side. The bottle is open and the cap sits next to the bottle. Pouring from the bottle are colorful candy hearts.
Caption reads, "Still, I have a tendency to catastrophize." Below the caption is an illustrated image of a teddy bear wearing a red bow tie sitting next to open flames.
Caption reads, "I spend a lot of time thinking about germs & death." Below the caption is an illustrated image of a heart-shaped box of candy full of microscopic germs and chocolates.
Caption reads, "My medication quiets the noise." Below the caption is an illustrated image of a cupcake with pink frosting and a cherry on top.
Caption reads, "But it doesn't kill it completely." Below the caption is an illustrated image of a cake with a butcher knife sticking out of the top. Red frosting runs like blood.
Caption reads, "It went from an EDM set to elevator music. But I'm always in the elevator." Below the caption is an illustrated image of a rose.
This is an image of Danielle Shorr. She has blonde hair and is wearing make up.

Danielle is a professor of creative writing in Southern California. Winner of the Touchstone Literary Magazine Debut Prize in Nonfiction, a finalist for the Diana Woods Memorial Prize in Creative Non-fiction, and nominee for The Pushcart Prize 2022 & 2023 and Best of the Net 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025, her work has appeared in The Florida Review, Driftwood Press, The New Orleans Review and others. @danielleshorr