Wanderlust

2. Getting a Tattoo

It had been four days since Jean and I had brought Everest home.
He was better, the doctors said. But, the short of breath thing was still there, and a paleness was visible on his face.

Everest could walk by himself, but, at a very slow pace. He still staggered while climbing stairs.

My phone rang, interrupting my thoughts.

"Hello, boyfriend! Whatcha upto? ", Everest's voice said.

"Morning, Ev. How you feeling? "

"Fantastic - "

" - No, he's not, Aaron. Don't believe him, dear! ", Jean's voice shouted.

"Oh, please, mum! Ignore her, Aaron.", he whispered the last part.

"Sure.", I chuckled nervously.

"So, it's Tuesday, today."

"Yup, it is, why? "

"Tattoo! You promised, Aaron, puh-lease!!! "

"Uh, we'll see."

I got off work early and went over at Everest's to meet him.

"This is for you.", I smiled while giving Jean a bouquet of amaryllises.

"Sweetheart, you didn't need to do that. They're beautiful. I'll go put them in the water."

"Oh no, here, let me.", I stopped her, " you're getting late for your shift.

She hugged me before walking over to her car.

"Where's mine? ", Everest questioned.

"What? "

"You bought mum a bouquet, where's my one? ", he pouted like a kid.

"Well, I don't have any, but I may have something better...? "

I sat down on his bed and kissed him - just an innocent peck.
He bit my lower lip, slightly, before pulling me to lie beside him.

"Your tattoo? ", I asked, pulling away."

"Tomorrow? "

I smiled and took off my shirt before sliding under the blankets.

I gulped down my coffee and kissed Everest goodbye, before driving off to work.
Jean had stayed home that day, to look after Everest.

During the afternoon, I went back at his place and readied him in a fresh t-shirt.

As I parked my car outside the tattoo shop, Everest thanked me for the millionth time. I got out of the vehicle to go over at his side to help him towards the shop.

"Hey, Az! ", Everest greeted Azalea before hugging her.

Azalea hugged me too and showed us catalogues to choose a pattern.

"Oh, no no, I want to have wanderlust tattoooed here.", Everest said, showing his wrist.

"Got it and you, bud? ", Az asked me.

"Uh, no, thanks. I'm fine, right here."

"Oh, you sure, the chemical won't affect your skin? Like, you know, react with your -"

Shit, I hadn't even thought about that!

"Not at all, I spoke to...", he paused, "talked with Dr. Robbins. She said it's fine."

Although I still wasn't convinced, Everest roller up his sleeves and sat down.

Everest's knuckles turned white while holding onto my hand, squeezing it like there's no tomorrow.
Az had used a temporary ink, so that, it'd wash off after a bunch of months.

And, guess what happened next?
It was my turn to squeeze Everest's hand.

Yeah, I was getting a freaking tattoo.

I watched, with watery eyes, as Az drew an astronaut holding a balloon by its string, on my forearm.

The both of us, Everest and I, thanked Az and drove home, smiling the whole time.

Jean was dumbstruck at first, she had started crying. Everest explained her, about the bucket list, how he'd always wanted to get a tattoo and that the doctors had approved so - and then, did she stop weeping.

I went back home, pretty late.
As I got ready for bed, a message notification popped up on my phone.
It was text from Ada, my half sister - the text read, You free? Mum and Dad want to Skype with you. Hope you're okay :)

I turned on my laptop and logged into Skype and found Mum's account.

"Hello, honey! "

"Good night, mother. How're you... three doing? "

"We four are absolutely fine, Aaron dear. How's your health? Oh, and how's Everest doing? "

"Hi, Aaron! "

"Yeah, he's - oh, hey! Whaddup, Ada? Where's dad? "

We all talked for a while longer before it was nearly dawn.
I rubbed my eyes and couldn't really sleep. I was worried about Everest - I wasn't ready to lose him... not so soon.

"How's your day been? Ugh, I'm bored in here.", Everest said from the other side of the phone.

"Someone sounds active.", I smiled.

"Can I come meet you at your office? "

"No! Not at all, Ev! You're supposed to rest."

"Pfft, you wish."

"Ev, please. We're trying to help you, let us help you.", I said quietly.

I submitted my one-month leave application before driving to Everest's place.
I found the house quiet and dark.
I scurried off to Everest's room to find him drenched with sweat. His hair covered his eyes which had a tinge of sickness upon them.

I immediately called Jean and an ambulance.

The red and blue lights lit the whole street into a shade of alarming purple.
Everest had his oxygen mask on and his eyes had began rolling upwards.
Jean sobbed the whole time.
And me?
I kept looking somewhere else - anything or anyone but Everest.
I couldn't take it anymore and let the tears pour.

*

"His condition will deteriorate if we don't admit him here. His symptoms are very clear  - it's blood cancer.", a nurse informed us.

Jean dropped on the couch and put her hands on her eyes.

"I can't, I... This is so...! Why can't I swi... switch places with him?! ", she cried.

I went over to her and wrapped my arms around her - because right then, that was the only comfort I could give.

And tattoos or no tattoos, bucket lists or no bucket lists, realization of losing Everest dawned on me.