According to the answers to the question "Is a melee spell attack also a melee attack?", a melee spell attack is a melee attack. Meaning that if I were to cast absorb elements after being hit by a fire bolt, I can add 1d6 fire damage to my next shocking grasp.
As a sorcerer, could I combine this with the Distant Spell Metamagic option?
Using a sorcery point allows me to give a touch-range spell a range of 30 feet instead. Is shocking grasp now a melee spell attack with a range of 30 feet, and therefore eligible for the extra damage granted by absorb elements?