“I know.” Jenna’s smile grew wider as she looked up at Chris.
“Okay, so which design did you decide on from the two that I sent you?” he asked her as they walked down the corridor and into his room.
“I think I’m gonna stick with the one to cover the scar completely.”
“Okay, good!” he said with relief. “I don’t know why, but I had the impression that would be your choice and I was adding some extras a minute ago.”
“You were?”
“Yeah. Let me show you.” Chris sat on his stool and moved his laptop’s touchpad so the screen turned on again. “You like?”
“Oh my God! I love the raven you added beside her head.”
“Great!” He grinned. “I thought it was missing something and we could give it a little more… power.”
“It’s beautiful. Can’t wait.” Jenna unconsciously touched her left forearm.
He nodded, smile not dropping. “Okay then. Let me get the stencil, and we’ll start.”
As he readjusted the size of the illustration and clicked on the print button, she sat on the tattoo chair and got herself comfy. She was a new client, one who, despite the purple half-shaved head and flashy outfit of black and bright green, had virgin skin. But since they’d been in contact for five months, and had met several times to figure out whether covering her scar was possible, to talk her through the process, and to discuss the design, she felt almost at home. Or so she had told him.
Chris went to the reception area to get the page he’d printed. “Do you want something to eat or drink?” he asked Jenna when he came back.
“No, I’m good. Just had lunch with my mom.”
“We have water, Coke...”
“I’m fine, really.” She giggled.
“This is gonna be a long session and you might feel lightheaded at some point. So don’t hesitate to ask me for anything. A juice, food, a cig, to stop… Okay?” Chris put on a pair of dark blue gloves. “Can you raise your sleeve?”
“Y-yeah…” Jenna hesitated for a second.
The first time she had come into the studio, she was so ashamed, she even cried before she could show him her arm in the privacy of his tattooing room.
“I’m so weak.” She’d rubbed her palm over it, trying to hide the scar.
“No, you’re not,” Chris had said without needing to ask what it was from. “You were in a low moment, but you’re still here, kicking ass.” He’d offered a bottle of water and a tissue. “And I’m glad I’ve gotten to meet you.”
He would never forget the smile she gave him.
At the young age of twenty-six, not only had she fought and won a five-year battle against cancer, but she was also takingcrazy pills, as she mockingly called them, to keep her away from the depression which had led to the suicide attempt and left her scarred for life. Maybe he was biased because the topic felt too close to home, but he couldn’t help continuing to remind her she was a survivor, a warrior, at every chance he got. It was the reason for the design he’d done for her.
“Oh, it’s looking slightly better than the first time you showed me,” he said, thumbing it.
“I did everything you said, and that rosehip oil you gave me has helped a lot.”
The vertical mark on her wrist was still quite obvious, but it wasn’t as red anymore.
“Good.”
Chris grabbed her wrist and turned her arm up, shaved it, and applied some alcohol to clean the area. Then he adjusted the design over the forearm to confirm the size was right, since he had only tried it digitally over a picture she’d sent him before now.
“I think… there.” He tilted his head.
“Yeah… It’s gorgeous.”
With a pink pen, Chris painted three little lines to mark the position, and only after he’d rubbed the primer over her skin did he put the stencil down. He made sure it was perfectly in place and peeled it off, then lightly patted a paper towel over it to avoid getting the residual transfer ink smeared.
