How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

36- Like a Tattoo

Clara

After we spend a few days seaside at the resort we finally get out and do something interactive. There was endless possibilities of things to do around here so there was no shortage of activities. The city was full of culture and adventure, so we let our feet take us wherever it may lead us.

We end up in a little place that was filled with little shops. I get some clothes and hats and other cool things I would love to take back home. Eventually we come across a old fashion tattoo shop and I get really excited.

"Come on! We should get a tattoo" I insist.

"If I come back with a tattoo my mom is going to lose it" he claims.

"You're 26" I remind him.

"But I don't think my mom is wrong about that" he insists. "Why would you want to deface your body like that anyway" he asks and I drop his hand.

We stop walking and he turns to me. He could tell something was wrong but he wasn't quite sure what it was.

"What did I say" he asks.

"If you think tattoos are defacing your body then what are all these scars on my body to you" I ask him and his face falls.

"I... I'm sorry I said that. I didn't mean it like that" he insists.

"People get to choose tattoos, not the scars they have" I remind him.

"I know. I'm not saying that tattoos are bad. I just don't see why you would want one" he claims.

"Maybe I want one to cover up my scars" I tell him.

He stops the bantering we had going on to stare at me. He steps closer to me so people would walk around us as we stand in the middle of the sidewalk.

"Now why would you want to do that" he asks.

"Who wants to walk around with visible representations of the times they've been hurt? Who wants to look in the mirrors and see all the times they've felt pain" I question.

"Your scars are proof that you won. You made it" he insists.

"If I have a scar it doesn't mean I won, it means that it's over but it's still a part of me wether I like it or not" I defend.

"Not to me it isn't" he claims. "I think your scars are beautiful. It shows that you are strong, that you've overcome anything life throws at you and you keep going. Not a dresser or a bullet can stop you from being who you were meant to be. I love your scars because that's who you are, and I love you" he says as he grabs my hands. I let out a long sigh as I let his words sink in.

"I never thought about it that way" I admit.

"I'm not going to stop you from getting your scars covered. It's your body and your life, so whatever you want you're going to have it. I'll love you no matter what, I just want to make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Because you can cover up the scars but they're still going to be there. You might not see them but you can feel them, you can always feel them" he explains.

"I just want them to have never happened" I admit.

"I know baby, me too. But they did and now look at you. If it wasn't for them you wouldn't be here" he says.

"Yeah, I guess so" I nod.

"So you're not going to cover your scars" he asks and I shake my head.

"No. But I still want a tattoo. I wanted to get daisies, they're my mothers favorite and mine too. My dad had a garden full of them in the backyard of our house growing up. Every Saturday morning he would go out and pick the prettiest one and bring it to my mom. He always said "thank god I picked the right one" before he gave it to her" I smile.

"Damn. I need to step my game up" Anthony claims and I laugh.

"I have some high expectations. My father loved my mom more than anything in the world. That's why I'm kinda happy they died together, I don't think they could live a life apart from each other" I admit.

"Well that is a beautiful idea. I think you should get it" he claims and I raise my eyebrow at him.

"I thought you said tattoos were bad" I admit.

"No. I said I would never get one. I don't know about anything I would want on my body for the rest of my life and I don't know how to tell my mom without her crying" he claims and I start to smile.

"Okay. But if I got one you wouldn't be mad" I ask.

"Of course not. And even if I would be you should do it anyway because I'm a idiot and my opinion doesn't matter" he teases.

"That's not true" I say. "Your opinion does matter" I joke and he squeezes my hand.

"I'm serious. You should do it" he says.

"Okay. I'm going to get a old fashion tattoo" I smile.

"Let's do it" he encourages.

We walk into the little shop and get helped right away. I know the tattoo shops back in Chicago have waiting lists that last for days so this is nice. I meet with a guy and explain what I wanted. Just two yellow Daisy's and the words "thank god I picked the right one" under it. I wanted it on my rib cage and not too big, but something I can happily show off to people. He explains that it's going to be painful and take a while but I assure him that I can take it, I had the scars to prove it.

So he takes me back and draws something up. Once he finds something we both liked he gets started. It wasn't comfortable but it wasn't bad either. He talked to me to get my mind off of it and I explain to him that I was here with my boyfriend to get away. He admits he knew who Anthony was because he was a big Javy fan and I assured him that he was a great person to follow. That kid is going places, that's for sure.

After about two hours we were done. My side was a little sore but it looked cool and I was happy that I got to do it here the old fashioned way. I pay the man and leave him a nice tip before I go out to the waiting room. I was worried I wouldn't be able to swim but he told me I should be fine as long I plastic wrap it and put some solution on before and after I'm in the water. I find Anthony and we head back to the hotel after a long day of walking around.

I change into a pajama dress I recently bought and brush my teeth we before pulling my hair up and climbing into bed. Anthony pulls me into his chest and I lay there for a second before I feel something stick to me.

"What is that" I ask him.

"Plastic wrap" he says.

"No. Mines still on my side" I assure him.

"It's not from you" he claims.

I turn around in bed and grab his wrist. I see it had on the same type of plastic wrap as my side did.

"What did you do" I whisper.

"I got a tattoo" he says and my eyes go big.

"Seriously" I ask and he smiles so that I can see his teeth in the dark room.

"Yeah. I got it done while you got yours" he claims.

"Why did you do that" I ask. I didn't want his mom on my case because he got a tattoo just because I did.

"I realized I never got a tattoo because I never had something that I wanted to have on me forever. I never new of something that would last throughout the years of wear and tear. I will eventually get tired of baseball and all of that. I change my favorite song every other day and if I get something with the Cubs then end up somewhere else I'll never hear the end of it.

But when I was waiting for you I realized that you were my forever. That when I die, I want to die with you because I don't want to live a single day without you by my side, just like your parents. I realized that you were the prettiest flower in the garden, you always were, and I will pick you every time.

So I got your initials tattooed on my wrist. And like a scar I'm going to have you with me forever" he explains.

"Anthony..." I trail off. "That is the sweetest thing I have ever heard" I insist.

"I just love you so much" he claims.

"I love you too baby" I assure him as I grab his face. "I love you too."