Rose Tattoos | H.S (discontinued)

𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚

The weekdays flew by quickly and before I knew it, I turn the big two-zero.

I'll be spending this year at work with Boss since I still had to come in. I could have requested off but what was the point if neither my father nor my mother will do the same to spend the day with me?

Currently, I was finishing up on wrapping my last client of the day's arm with saran wrap and telling him what he can and cannot do for now before he goes.

After he left the room, I cleaned my area and headed out to the front desk where boss stood smiling down at a piece of paper before he glanced up at me.

"Take a look at this, Bella," he handed me a piece of paper, which had my old drawing on it. "You made this on your first year here."

On the once-blank sheet, it had a colorless drawing of a lion roaring with drool stretching from its top teeth to the bottom.

"On my eighteenth birthday," I chuckled when I saw my sloppy signature, which did get neater over time thanks to constantly signing my art, with the date underneath.

I spent my eighteenth the same way I am on my twentieth: at the parlor with Boss.

Two years ago, I sat in the back room scrolling through Pinterest for inspiration 'cause I felt like drawing something to occupy myself.

Nothing sparked the creativity in me until I found a candid photograph of a lion roaring. I stared at it for a good two minutes, there is no doubt that the animal is enormous and frightening. But I liked how terrifying it looked so I decided that this will be the one I draw in my own style, with credit to the photographer of course. I wrote their names on the back of the piece as a little reminder of who captured this masterpiece and gave me inspiration with reference while I create my art.

"Remember when I told you that I wanted this tattooed on myself? But before I actually let the needle touch me I chickened out because of the consequences and punishments I'll get from my parents."

"I do remember, I told you that it's okay and it's your choice whether you get this done or not since you were afraid," he chuckled at the faint memory. "Now, I'm not the type to condone doing things behind your parents back but I'll tell you this: you either go through with your own decisions and learn from your mistakes and success along the way or continue to live the life your parents planned out for you before you were even born and never experience what you could have done then regret not taking a chance on it in the future, I saw how badly you wanted that tattoo. But the fear in your eyes clearly spoke for you and I understand that. Remember, Bella, you have the choice of getting it done now or never." he said seriously.

I stayed silent, staring back at the lion as I let Boss's words sink deep into my brain.

At this moment, I can make the choice as a twenty year old to get this tattooed on me, like how I wanted when I was eighteen or I can live on and skip this and everything else that I've always wanted to do.

"You know how people always ask, 'what do you want for your birthday?'" I asked Boss, he nodded. "Well, I think I know what I want."

I handed back the paper to him and confidently said, "This. Tattooed. Today."

A smile broke onto Boss's face, he crossed his arms and asked if this is what I truly want.

I nodded.

I should be allowed to do anything on my body without anyone telling me otherwise. For too long have I backed down on so many great opportunities that could have been something worth telling my own children in the future all because I was afraid of what my parents will do to me if I disobeyed their commands.

And now, I'm going to get this tattooed on my back with my birthday below the lions head in Roman numerals. While I am afraid once again, I feel that this will be the start of me taking control of my life.

As I lay my body with my chest to the chair and back exposed to the cold breeze of the air conditioning every single worse case scenario plays in my mind.

I could be forced to quit at the parlor and never be allowed to step foot in here again, forced to drop out of university, or be kicked out of my own home.

Was this really worth the punishments?

"I'm going to start now, Bella. But before I do, are you having any thoughts of regret or want to back out?"

"...No," I answered half-truthfully. "Let the tattooing begin."

Boss started on my lower back where the Roman numerals are placed before gradually tattooing the bottom on the lions mane to the top. The pain wasn't intense on the lower part but I did have to squeeze on a stress ball that Boss gave to me prior to starting, just so that I don't let the torture out by screaming.

It was a slow process and the pain intensity was beginning to rise on the boney parts of my back.

I kept hissing and whimpering, some tears even spilled out of my eyes but I told boss to just keep going and get this finished today, which he did.

After twelve hours of laying on the chair, it was finally done. My once, plain skin has now been touched by ink and needles. Breaking the promise I made for myself when I first said I'll never let a second of it on me.

My heart pounded fast and hard against my chest. I couldn't believe I had actually done it, it felt unreal.

Once Boss handed me the mirror so that I could take a look at the fresh tattoo, I couldn't stop staring at the large, dark ink, that is outlined with redness for now, on my back.

I almost started crying again at how beautifully tattooed it is. You could probably see every single detail from possibly ten feet away; it's so well done that it looks like a lion is trapped in my back trying to escape.

"Happy birthday kid, consider this as a gift from me to you." Boss said, admiring the work he's done on me as well.