Would Anyone Mind

She is young, startlingly pretty. He notices her when she takes a chair. Be with you in a few, he tells her. Look at the samples if you like. She picks up photos of his art and begins thumbing through it. Her skin is exquisitely beautiful. He does not see this until she is behind the curtain with him. She hops up on the table and looks at him with solemn amber eyes. Did you see something you like? She shakes her head ‘no’. Her skin is virginal. He feels weird about this. What do you want? A new butterfly, an original. Something you have never done. He nods. Lots of markings, she said. Details. Would anyone mind? He asks her gently. Tears form but she blinks them away. Not anymore. Wordlessly the tattoo artist picks up his tools and begins Determined to make her the most elegant butterfly he has ever created.