When the doctor guided Josue into the world, his grandmother’s face crinkled in glee. “We’re fifteen now!” she squealed. The next month another doctor studied her tissue. When the pulley lowered her out of the world, bent faces crumpled in pain. “We’re fourteen now,” someone whispered while Josue squirmed guiltily.

Elizabeth is a former high school instructor and has been published in HuffPost, Intrepid Times, Burningword Literary Magazine and 101 Words. See more at thewriteprofile.com