Page 107 of Praying for Thunder

Small, tender, significant moments… Priceless.

I’m so fucking blessed.

I smiled at Diesel. “Thank you.”

Deep inhale…

The tattoo gun turned on… then touched my skin…

I wasn’t fully grown, but I didn’t care. That tattoo growing with me was going to be a gift not many could fathom. It was a humbling honor to have Dio work a gun on my skin. He started with a set of eyes he knew well. One on each of my pecs, so Ani could watch over me. Then, he disguised them with the beginning of wings he once tattooed on her own skin.

If this experience wasn’t enough to mark me for life, Dio then handed over his gun to Diesel.

What were the chances they were both profound artists?

Is anything by chance? Truly?

Diesel would never know Anita, and Dio would never know Rosa. But between these two men, I would have pieces of both women forever in my life. Through ink on my skin, those men were praying for me to be protected when they weren’t able to be by my side. I believed that meant they were praying for Thunder.

As Diesel added to the wings, letting them stretch over my chest and shoulders, I barely felt any pain. I was far too engrossed in the moment. Tears of pride filled my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. They weren’t for anyone watching. They were only for my tattoo artists and the two women who had made Thunder.

“When we’re back together,” Diesel said, so quietly I knew only he, Dio, and I could hear, “we’re gonna add a lightning bolt. Feel me?”

I’d never heard that expression before, but I understood.

“Yes, sir. I feel you.”

Once my tattoo was done, the three of us made more promises to see this ordeal through, then come back together. I still had mountains to climb, but now I felt like I had men, fathers, to catch me if I slipped.

Walking away from that tent, and leaving treasures behind, I patted the envelope inside my cut’s pocket and swallowed every tear.

EIGHTEEN

SACRIFICES OF HEARTS

The old church, that had sheltered two children and their secret friendship for years, now looked different to me. Diesel’s words about Rosa kept entering my mind, making me think and wonder at all that he meant. Many past words from my short life were speaking to me—the now older me.

“Hi.” Rya was standing on the top step, the church behind her like another hidden message. Yet I knew it had nothing to do with the physical structure.

It was a symbol.

“Hey.” I smiled, approaching the stairs, so ready to feel her in my arms.

Rya was now fourteen. Her body kept changing, developing…

I was young, and changing myself as my own body developed, but the fact that we were doing it together somehow made it that much more fascinating.

Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, I gazed up at her. “Rya, if life doesn’t let us be together when we’re older, I need you to know something.”

Her smile faded. “What’s wrong?”

“I need you to know that… I will always love you. I will always be your best friend.”

Cautiously, she took steps down toward me. “Ya alright, Thunder?”

At sixteen years old, I already had the foresight to know Rya and Thunder were going to pay heavy prices for our love. “Do you believe me?”

On the second step, she reached out, letting her gentle fingers push my hair from my forehead. As her touch soothed me, my eyes slid shut, and I saw Diesel. My own hair was no longer as blond and would soon be closer to brown, if I would continue to look like him.