As I walked into the “Ink Skull” I started feeling a little queasy. Was it going to hurt? What if he made a mistake? Was I ever going to regret it? I had chosen the design I wanted weeks ago, a world map. It was supposed to symbolize my childhood and all the traveling I had done and places I’d been too. I always wanted to remember these years where I saw so many new countries and had the chance to visit many different cultures. It would also remind me of the time I spent with my family on these trips and all the positive and also negative moments we went through together. But most of all, all the amazing people I met and all the friends I made that will stay with me forever. 

Yes. I was completely sure I wanted it. But I had to admit I was a little scared off by all the guys covered with tattoos and piercings that were walking around the “Ink Skull”. My friend gave me a little nudge and I went to the person sitting at the desk and told them I’d like to get a tattoo. I gave them the design of the map and they led me into a room in the back and all of the walls were covered in gory paintings and graffiti. A few of my brother’s friends however told me that this place was very clean and professional so I  had nothing to worry about. I waited for about ten minutes with my friend telling me stories about how her uncle got a tattoo and it got infected and he had to go to the hospital etc. My hands started sweating and I my throat tightened. ‘I’ll be fine’, I kept telling myself. Then, the guy with the needle came. That needle was huge. I had never seen anything like it. I took a deep breath, grabbed my friends hand and closed my eyes. As the needle entered my neck I felt a rush of pain go all the way down my back. After a few seconds I got used to the pain so that I could tolerate it without screaming. 

An hour later I had a huge patch on my neck and it was burning like crazy. But once I took the patch off and saw it I was overwhelmed. It was amazing. All the pain went away and all I felt was joy. I loved it.