Page 26 of When Love Becomes A Need
I grabbed her wrist and cleaned it so I could get started. Her skin was so soft that I couldn’t help but run my thumb over the spot I was about to ink up a few times. I could hear a small gasp escape her lips.
My eyes flickered up, her face twisted.
“You’re tense. Relax girl.” She gave me a childlike grin and nodded.
I started my tattoo gun and gave her one last look. Fatima had her eyes glued to the gun in my hand. Keeping my smile hidden, I shook my head and got ready to start.
“How many tattoos do you have?” she asked me.
She flinched when the gun touched her skin. “Don’t think about it or it’ll be worse. To answer your question, shit, I don’t know. I stopped keeping count.”
“What made you get into doing tattoos?”
Her hand balled into a fist. “I always been into drawing since I was a kid. When I got my first tattoo at sixteen, I knew it was what I wanted to do.”
“Mhm, so you drew all the tattoos on you?”
I grabbed a paper towel to wipe her wrist. “For the most part, yeah. I did a lot of them on my arm, too.”
“Wow, so you’re really talented.”
I glanced up at her. Her eyes were glued to her wrist. “I told you I’m good at everything I do.” She looked at me and I could tell I had her flustered. “What about you though? How did you get into photography?”
I glanced at her again and a smile appeared on her face. “My grandpa. He was a photographer before he passed. Bought me my first camera and everything.”
I nodded. “That shit’s dope. You’re good at it, too.”
“Not good enough,” she mumbled.
“Why you say that?” I wiped the tattoo again.
She sighed. “I submitted my photos to this big photography company and landed an interview. When I met with the boss, he wasn’t as impressed as everyone else. Told me my pictures were mediocre and that I should stick to taking pictures as a hobby.”
I stopped tattooing her and looked at her again.
Somehow, being around Fatima was calming for me. Even sitting here with her face balled up talking about her rejection, she still brought a certain energy with her.
“That nigga was stupid,” I told her simply.
“His company is one of the top photo studios in the area.”
“And that means? I saw your work and your pictures were dope asfuck. Just because one person doesn’t agree, doesn’t mean they’re not good.”
“And just because one person agrees, doesn’t mean theyaregood.”
I smirked. “True, but you got talent. Is that why you were upset the last time I saw you?”
I started back on her tattoo.
“Yeah, I guess I was just discouraged. I watched my grandpa be so successful. He lived and breathed it. I wanted that too. I used to always go to his studio for hours sitting and watching him. He would let me help and give me tips. I just thought I was ready.”
“Fatima, do you know how many people doubted me when it came to me opening up this shop? For a while, even my dad was against it. He wanted me to follow behind him and work for his company. I didn’t let that stop me. I built this shop from the ground up, and now I’m about to open my second one.”
Fatima was quiet for a second. “I guess you’re right. It’s just so hard trying to get people to give you a chance.”
“So, don’t give them an option. Make them.”
“Make them?”
