~•~•~•~•~•~•~Flashback~•~•~•~•~•~
“Ethan, no. Absolutely not. I am not letting you tattoo me!” I protested, a playful squeal escaping my lips.
We were at a music festival in Sydney, a weekend escape with our closest friends. Finally free from the pressures of home and school, surrounded by our favorite bands and a sea of faces. We’d found a spot in a park teeming with tents, laughter, and the promise of new memories. Hundreds of tents dotted the landscape, each holding stories waiting to be made. We’d huddled around a crackling fire that night, sharing tales from festivals past, drinks flowing, and smoke curling into the darkness. When we craved solitude, we retreated to our tent as a soft rain began to fall. Intertwined in each other’s arms, we listened to the gentle drumming of raindrops against the plastic tarp.
“Come on, please?” Ethan’s big, blue eyes pleaded, locking onto mine. “No way in bloody hell, Ethan!” I retorted, playfully punching his chest. “I know we’re going to be together forever. It’s like a promise ring,” he coaxed, his voice laced with conviction. I ran a hand through my hair, considering his request.
“Okay, fine. Is it going to hurt?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“Nah, it doesn’t hurt. I’ve got a few, don’t worry,” he reassured me, sitting up and reaching into his bag. A few minutes later, he produced his equipment.
“Ready?” he asked. I nodded, settling into a cross-legged position. He knelt beside me, positioning the needle against my ankle. A rush of excitement and nervousness coursed through my veins. I glanced down at him.
“Nervous, babe?” he grinned, his eyes twinkling.
I nodded, gripping his bicep. He leaned in and kissed me, a soft brush of lips against my skin.
“I love you so much!” he whispered before starting the tattoo. I groaned, a small grunt escaping my lips as the needle pierced my skin. The pain wasn’t unbearable, but it was a sharp, insistent throb.
“It’s not that bad. What are you writing?” he asked, pausing mid-stroke.
“Together forever,” he grinned, finishing the design. He packed up his equipment.
“No, no, no. Now *I* get to give *you* one. Like a promise ring,” I teased, shaking my head and winking. He realized I was mirroring his earlier plea. He slowly handed me the tattoo gun, and nervously, I began to etch a design onto his bicep, adding to the constellation of ink already adorning his skin.
“Done,” I squealed moments later. He looked down at my handiwork. He tackled me to the ground, pressing his weight against mine, shifting until he was perfectly positioned between my legs.
“It’s perfect, baby. Together forever!” he murmured, kissing me softly before laying us down on our sleeping bag. We were so young, so naive, believing that our forever would actually last forever.
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I traced the lines of the tattoo I’d given him months ago. He caught my gaze, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
“Remember that night?” he mumbled, his voice laced with nostalgia. Ethan grasped my hand, intertwining our fingers. Those words sent a shiver down my spine. He knew exactly what I was thinking about.
“Yes, I do,” I confessed, my voice laced with sadness.
“Do you still have the one I gave you? You haven’t covered it up, have you?” he asked, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
“Yes, I have it,” I managed to choke out. These days, I wished I didn’t. I’d considered getting it covered, hoping to bury the memories along with the ink. I’d gotten the tattoo believing we would be together forever. But apparently, forever wasn’t long enough—or good enough—for him.