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I’ve heard varying stories about tattoos and am not sure what to expect But when he applies the s a little, but it’s nothing I can’t handle He runs theto swipe over my skin every few strokes Suddenly theme

His eyes are hazel, like all the colors of fall wrapped up in two perfect globes, with flecks of brown, green, rust, and orange I get caught in his gaze, and I can’t look away

He jostles aze from the depths of his eyes and look at his mouth “You okay?” he mouths at me with no sound

I hold ainst n for “fine”

He nods, bends his head again, and goes back to work

I close ain until he’s done The quiet peace is sohts ramble to my family’s trip to the beach on the days before the fire

My father had held h into a vat of hot oil It bubbled and boiled, and finally the vendor scooped out a perfectly fried doughy treat, which he sprinkled with cinnaar and topped with syrup

“I bet we could h

Only it wasn’t easy It was really difficult The oil had popped and sizzled, and I didn’t expect that to happen, so I’d used a little water to cool it down, but that caused it to explode and burn my skin Then the fire started, and I couldn’t put it out…

So jostles me out of my memory and I open my eyes I’m startled to find thatI swipe under it with the back of

“Are you okay?” Ryan mouths at me

I nod and motion for him to continue, but he sets his loves, and then wheels his chair close to me He uses his thumbs to wipe the tears from my cheeks

He takes a deep breath and arches his brow at me, like he wants me to do the same, so I do

He exhales, and I do too

We go through this pattern no less than ten ti into mine the whole time