The sun and the moon

by Jorge Ruiz Villasante--

The needle approached my left arm. I was relaxed and confident that everything was going to be all right as she kept saying but, when she introduced the sharp end for the first time on my arm, I began to doubt had I made the right decision. What was she doing? Why was she doing it? Had she done it before? 

I latter realised that I was actually too anxious and distressed at the moment to even think straight. I wasn't even aware of the consequences of that action in my own body. It would be there forever reminding me of that day, that moment, when my whole life would change. Even my body would never be the same. 

I had heard that some people had done it just the once and got along with their lives. I hoped I would be one of them. Nevertheless, the most common consequence in most people was that they kept going, getting more and more of it. I didn't think that'd be me, but you never know with this kind of thing. 

It was getting dark, but you could still see the sun in the sky. The moon was already visible among the pink and orange clouds. I wanted to have them both with me at all times. The problem was that she didn't have the proper gear and time was running out, so I could only get one. Therefore, a sun was on my upper arm by the end of the evening and it stayed there for a long time before I could get my moon. 

Years later, after much thought, I still wasn't sure if I wanted to have both my arms marked, so I decided to cover the old one with a new one. I never liked it that much anyway. That girl was long gone and, this time, I wanted to get it done properly. 

I went to this place someone had recommended and entered a dark room where there was a man I had never met before. I asked him if he could do it for me. It took him just a few minutes to sketch it following my instructions and, when he showed it to me, I loved it. It was just perfect! 

The sun and the moon were together, intertwined, on my left arm. The former looking at me with its two big eyes and that subtle smile, the latter sideways with her eyes closed, as if in a deep, pleasant dream. Just the way I had always dreamt they should be. So, by the end of that afternoon, I had my tattoo, at last, and it was there to stay.