"It's like I'm running away from me,
it's like I've taken the puzzle in me
and left it scrambled for all to see."
__________________________________
When Arden Danvers' parents split when she was eight years old, she moved away with her dad from her...
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"I can't breath any faster All the air I wanna capture It's heavy and it hurts my head."
Rescue My Heart - Liz Longley
________________________________ tw: mentions of suicide, themes of depression, and bullying
XI. \\ AFTER IMAGES //
THREE MONTHS LATER
The sound of electric buzzing lulled in the air as Arden sat in the padded chair, focusing on the sound rather than the stinging feeling radiating in her wrist.
The pain wasn't as bad as she had expected it to be, especially for her first time doing this, and she dared to think that the pain even felt a little good. Outward pain was definitely better than inward pain.
Arden had been going back and forth with the idea to do it for weeks now, and today...well today was a little rough for her, so it seemed like it was a good day to do it.
So, that's what led her to the chair she was now sitting in, getting stabbed with needles in her wrist for the past ten minutes.
"Alright, all done." The buzzing was replaced with a man's voice, "Whatcha think?"
Arden looked down at her wrist for the first time since he started. It was red and swollen, but her eyes traced over the ink lines now embedded in her skin and a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips. It was a simple triangle with a line drawn straight across, resting on the point of the triangle. So simple, but it now meant so much to her.
"It's perfect," She told him happily, "Thank you so much."
The tattoo artist put something on the skin to keep the fresh tattoo from getting irritated and then wrapped it in a bandage and plastic wrap.
"No problem," He told her, "Now, leave the bandage on for at least an hour. Make sure to keep the tattoo clean and dry. I'd recommend sleeping in a long-sleeve shirt for the next couple nights so the skin doesn't rub and get irritated. It's also recommended you not go swimming for at least a month or take long baths...showers are okay, obviously. If it gets irritated or itchy, you can use non-scented lotion or A&D. When it starts peeling, don't pick at it. And that's about it. Any questions?"
