Into The River

Havermouth, Present Time

Aislen watched the birds eat from a bird feeder suspended off the balcony outside Rhett’s window. Of course he would have placed one there so that he could sit at the desk and draw them, she thought. It was precisely what she would have done if it were her room. Watching them now helped take her mind off the tattoo.

She wished that she could say that she was getting used to the pain, but it seemed whenever she found a level of comfort, Rhett would find a new and painful spot.

“I am done with the outline,” he said, leaning back and setting the tattoo gun down on the plastic wrapped tray. “I’ll just apply the ointment and bandages…”

She sighed in relief and rose from the chair, stretching out and rolling her head on her neck as he went to the bathroom and rummaged in the drawers before returning. She felt his breath on her skin as he smoothed the ointment over the tattoo, his pride in his artwork tainted by his misery. (Would he ever be able to look at it with