imprint -- an original short story

the heartbeat

it was as if it had come off

of a doctor's monitor directly.

it stretched from one end of her collarbone

to the other end.

i was so curious as to whose it was,

as it had to have been someone so important

that she would have imprinted her body

with them.

i wasn't jealous, because i knew she'd tell me

and everyone had lived a life,

that didn't involve me.

"my mom." she had almost started crying.

with a quickness i never thought i had,

i had wrapped her up and wiped her eyes.

"before she died,

i told her i loved her. between me saying that and her saying it back,

that's the heartbeat i took. the beginning of the tattoo,

is me saying it,

and the end is my mother's words."

i had never lost my parents, they had only separated.

i knew her father, and he knew me

he trusted me, and i did what i could,

to live up to his expectations.

"i'm sorry,"

"don't be." she had shaken her head in my hold,

"not when i have so many other people i can say

i love you

to."