It was more than mind blowing, it was smoking sexy. Couldn’t have been more perfect, but that scares the shit out of me. Since I’ve become a mature adult, and been through the ups and downs life tosses at you, I’ve always stayed in complete control.

With Evan around…he changes that. Breaks the rules and doesn’t even know it. After finishing up with my first client, I decide to text him.

Mornin’. Had to get to the shop. Is it ok to come by after work? ~G

And sent.

 I’m feeling rather rude about scooting out on him so early, but he was so ‘mmmph’ in his sleep, I didn’t want to wake him.

Why didn’t you wake me up? ~E

I didn’t want to disrupt that gorgeous look on your face. If you’re in pain, rub the salve over the tattoo, it’ll loosen the skin on and around it. ~G

Thanks, yeah, it’s feeling rather rough. It’s beautiful though, you do great work, so glad you stopped by to share your personal time with me. Sorry about being so nervous, but you really were my first. ~E

I like knowing that. I hope being your first was all you hoped for. That’s normal with the tatt, it’ll be sore for a few days, just keep it moist, cover it in clear saran wrap to keep it protected. Take a couple Tylenol’s and you’re good to go. ~G

Do you think it’ll take much more work to finish up the tatt? The inside of my leg? Oh, and you were amazing in the other department too for the record. You made being scared…easier for me. ~E

Nah, about two hours work, then we’re done with it. ~G

So… you’ll be back tonight? Hint…hint! ~E

I’ll try. ~G

I laugh to myself, this man couldn’t keep me away now if he wanted too. He’s like crack in a candy wrapper.

Are you serious? ~E

No. See you in a few hours. ~G

Glancing around the Twisted Cherry Tatt Parlor, thoughts of how this place came to be overwhelm me again. I run my fingers through the long black strands that cover my blue eyes; I did this somehow. Me, that fuck-up, never gonna amount to anything person, did this and built upon it. I had to self-talk myself a lot, which sounds totally conceited to an outsider or completely crazy, not sure which or if both, but I’ve had no one to do it for me, to tell me I am worth a shit. I’ve been alone, fact and point, and had to fight hard and strong for everything I have, which isn’t much. Learned when to and when not to stand up for myself and how to even go about it, based on a trial basis, and it was difficult.

What did I ever do, but lose my parents in a horrible accident? Yeah, time to get off my pity-pot now, man the fuck up, and handle business.

All day long, I put ink to skin as needed, for various reasons. People have so many ideas and meanings for the tattoos on them, but I try to understand each one of them to give them the perfect image for whatever their reason behind it may be. I get it, I’m slicked out in body tatts and they all hold secrets that only mean something to me, to represent my love for lost friends and family members. A portal to souls, so to speak. Symbolisms that represent them, things that represent my coming of age and how I got to where I am in this life. Others just because I like them and others because I was young and dumb trying to find myself or a way to fit in.

Some just want their first tatt which is rather ignorant, but there in defines the difference between being stupid and ignorant. Ignorance knows no boundaries, they really don’t know why they do the things they are doing, they’re learning is all.

Stupidity is another thing…they know better, but just don’t quite give a care one way or the other. Makes them regret it when older, but by then, it’s a done deal. There is no magic eraser to void it, besides melting off half of your skin and going deep into tissue to burn it off. I’m personally not a fan of any part of my body smoking up and searing under a flame, then blistering for weeks. Risks for infection are too high, not to mention the pain level. Excruciating.

I literally remember one kid coming in, he had ‘FUCK YOU’ on his fingers. Momma said no way. He walked in the door and his fingers were still smoking…blistering as the skin melted and it looked like they’d been dipped in acid. Bubbling and peeling back, it was a horrible sight to see. The pain that shot across his face was even worse, and the whole time all his mother could do was tell him ‘you’ll thank me for this one day because when you have that kind of crap all over you, you’ll never get a decent job or amount to anything.’ To him, it was important for whatever reason. That showed the ignorance in the kid. I never tatt up a kid, ever. You have to be of legal age to even enter the shop doors or accompanied by a parent. It’s good business politics, without drama. Thank goodness they didn’t want a tattoo, I didn’t need the argument. They just wanted to check and make sure it was dissolving the way it should have been.

I remember being a kid and getting “MOM” across the top of my knee, so I could remember her every time I looked at my leg. I never even thought that to everyone else looking at it, all they saw was “WOW”, not mom, since it showed backwards to them. My intentions were great…but then runs in ignorance. Now I laugh about it. Lesson learned.

I only have select clients that make arrangements to come in on Sundays, and they’ve been seeing me for years and years.

After finishing up the last little signature tatt on the left fist of Ms. Allen, I close it down and throw the equipment in the sterilization solution, then the Auto-clave and almost walk out. Hers was easy. She only wanted two little hearts, one a blueish color, the other a reddish pink color, both intertwined, and outlined in a charcoal gray, the initials in both hearts and peeking out into ivy leaves on the outskirts.

Finally, I’ll have a day off, it’s been one hell of a week. I always take half Sundays off, just because it’s the slowest day of the week. But here lately, I’ve been more tired than normal.

Maybe I need a vacation…hahaha like that will ever happen.

I give Evan a quick call before heading over to his place.