metanoia (H.S)

O N E

Good News

I spent the whole day in my head
Do a little spring cleaning,
I'm always too busy dreaming
Well, maybe I should wake up instead
A lot of things I regret, but I just say I forget
Why can't it just be easy?

The sound of my feet against the asphalt was the only thing distracting my mind from the intrusive thoughts circulating through it. I couldn't stop thinking, not on a day like this, not when I was about to do this again, why was I? I know the answer, I just won't accept it to myself and face the mess that my head has become.

Before I could think about it harder and tear myself down piece by piece, my hand was already opening the door and the bell indicating someone had come in the facility rang. It didn't take long before I'm being embraced in a tight hug, his cologne invades my nose and somehow the things that were going through my head were no longer there.

- "Ah how is my favorite child doing?"- Mark said as he let go of out hug- Three years is a long time, I hope you're getting something new done- he said in a reproving yet loving tone.

- "Mark!, its so fucking great to see you, you know me, routine and shit, new stuff is not for me"- I said as I took my jacket off

- "I've known you for what? Seven years? You need to let me pick something new for you"- he said- "Anyways, what have you been up to?"- he said putting some gloves on- "same as always?"

- "Uhm you know, working hard and keeping the boss mom happy"- I said- yeah same as always- I lay down in the plastic covered seat with my hand placed on the table next to the seat waiting for Mark to get back.

- "Are you ever gonna tell me who this Javadd guy is? You've been getting this tattoo retouched every three years like a fucking clock and not a single word has come out of your mouth talking about him Alana"- he said while grabbing the tattoo gun and placing it right on top of my middle finger- "I mean I wanna say i'm like your cool dad so you can tell me anything kid, you know that"- he said

- "I know you are Mark"- I sighed- "promise i'll do it next time, but now tell me how's Clara, did she enjoy the Ajiaco I made for you last week? I just know she misses home"- I said ignoring the sting in my finger

- "DID SHE ENJOY IT? She was rambling all week about it, i'm happy that you and my wife share this with each other, she always talks about Sincelejo and La Costa and there's no way I can get that, I can't be more British"- he said shaking his head with a big smile on his face- "You should actually come by this week, we'll make a Colombian night with typical food and music, what do you say?"- he said as he cleaned my middle finger from any excess ink

- "I would actually love that, but i'm leaving tomorrow, I have the simulator examination, remember?"- Mark finished retouching the tattoo and I stared at it for a little while, I think about how he'd love for me to get a new tattoo from someone else, I just know he'd love for me to take risks and enjoy life- "Its perfect Mark, thank you"- it'll be fine, i'm not betraying him.- "I'll tell you what"- I said before I could think about it any harder- "you have complete creative freedom with ONE tattoo in this arm"- I pointed my right arm, the same one where he retouched the word Javadd on the middle finger- "What do you say?"

- "Are you serious kid?"- A big smile appearing on his face- "i've never been more proud of you, stay here, don't move"- he stood up from the chair he was in and ran to the back of the store, I knew he would take a while because he takes sketching very seriously, so I allowed my mind to wander, I started looking around the Tattoo shop and saw some people sitting just like me, looking at their phones, or talking to the artists who were tattooing them, I wish I knew their stories, that would at least distract me for a little while and not think about today.