Ultraviolence

If you call, i'll run

18th January 2018

Tessa

Skin, once pale is now dark with the name of my lover, Ezequiel. His calligraphy strung out across the left my chest like ribs. His name, brilliant and beautiful above my heart where it belonged. I clenched my teeth through the pain as the needle curved the final letter back onto its self, my body red with blood just under skin waiting to be released.

The tattoo was agony, like having a thousand leaches suck on your sides. The silver needle slowly and painfully went in and out of my skin. My body twitched lightly against the sharp, ink stained metal. But if that was what it would take to get any thing from Ezequiel, it was worth it.

I met him in Brooklyn when I wanted to be famous, I longed to be on billboards, my name in lights and my face on every television. I longed for my voice to be on the radio, to tune in one day and hear my song, turn up the volume unapologetically to have the entire world immersed in my sound.

Abruptly, the needle stopped, its black ink staining its point. I walked up to a large, six foot mirror to see his masterpiece. Ezequiel strung across the bottom of my dark leather crop top like a branding. My face grew florescent with excitement, I wrapped my arms around the tattoo artist, squeezing him with enthusiasm.

"Thank you so much!" I pulled away and grabbed for my purse to pay him before walking out of the door.

I held the cold silver keys in my hand as I struggled to open the wooden door, it's weight protesting against my efforts. When the door finally opened I was greeted by my large, empty house. Darkness flooded the place like the epitome of loneliness that consumed my heart. The house was empty of love, hope and health.

Wigs and makeup covered my room like decoration, leading to a mirror in the centre of a royal blue room. I stared at my reflection, but I wasn't sure if I was looking at Tessa just yet. These eyes weren't mine, bagged and blue like  the button eyes of an old rag doll,  slumped on the ground of a child's bedroom. Cheek bones stuck out of my thin, pale face like thin blades, my jawline sharp underneath them. My head bald, yet still tinted black, where microscopic strands of hair grew like grass forcing its way through the cracks of concrete. I picked up my favourite wig, black with long hair long enough to reach my knees although it was utter turmoil to comb. I placed the knotted, pitch black wig on the top of my bald head.

I stood outside of my true loves mansion, the only thing blocking my way was a tall, large gate. the cold steel doors to heaven reached the birds, floating above the clouds just like cherubim's searching for their lost angels. In the corner of the gate, just by the wall that surrounds the place like a moat, rested an intercom the size of my hand.

Buzz

He took a long time to answer, a really long time. So I pushed the button again.

Buzz

And many times after that, so long that I even considered walking away. But I had not even begun to turn around before I heard his voice project out of the metal device.

"Who is this?"

"Tessa," I answered, bending down slightly so I could hold my lips close to the large device.

There was a long pause that was only filled by the white noise coming out of the intercom. The silence and static grew with every moment before one final click.

"Come in my love."

The gate slowly opened with several creaks and groans before it was wide enough for me to slip though it.

Once I was through I walked along the gravel path leading to his front door. I could feel the gravel crunch beneath my feet like crisp autumn leaves. My feet grew impatient as I got closer to the door, my pace grew faster and my strides grew larger. I was almost running but my heals prevented me from doing such a task.

I brought my hand to the golden knocker on the door but as soon as my hand touched the cold metal, the door swung open. Ezequiel. His dark green eyes stared into my soul like two large emeralds formed inside his precious face. My heart leapt with joy as I swung my arms around him. He swung his arms around me too.

He held me just a little too tight.

"I got something for you." I teased, pulling up the bottom of my shirt, revealing his name on my ribs. He whistled, tracing the tattoo with his fingers.

It hurt, like a blade was slowly scraping against my skin.

Stepping inside his house I kissed him, my hands explored his face until eventually settling on the top of his head, pulling at his messy hair.

He pulled my hair as well, he held my lips between his teeth and bit down.

hard.

I lead him to the bedroom, switching the light on behind me. He was on top of me, like a towering monster. I took of his shirt, his ribs were covered in faint purple bruises. Suddenly, he stepped away from me. His once tense body shivered once exposed and struggled to put his shirt on.

"Are you ok?" I ask, standing up parallel to him.

He nodded in response, shaking his head violently. He then smiled and held my hand.

I smiled too.

My lip was still leaking the warm, red liquid

"So, how was the... you know?" He asked, caressing my face

"It's honestly the worst. I got my wigs though, I'll be fine."

He brought his hand up to my scalp and delicately lifted the night sky off my head. It fell to the bed behind me, scrunched up like a ship at the bottom of the deep blue ocean.

"You don't need this." He whispered, smiling down at me

"I know."

We slept next to each other that night. Our hands intertwined like tree roots underneath the soil.

A cracked, dry soil that no tree could ever hope to grow to its full potential.

[please vote and comment!]