“So. How long has it been since you … you know.”
Olivia shrugged. “A while. I think I’m over it.”
Valerie scowled. “Liar. I don’t believe you. Let me see your legs.”
Olivia’s eyes widened before hardening into chips of graphite. “No.”
Her roommate reached over and pulled up her pant leg before Olivia could stop her.
Her hard voice negated her slow smile. “So instead of cutting, you’re writing on yourself now?”
Again, she shrugged. “There’s less clean up.”
Valerie snorted. “You need help, girl.”
“And you don’t?” Olivia shot back. “When is your next tattoo scheduled?” she asked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Valerie snapped back and glared at her.
It was Olivia’s turn to say it. “Liar. All I have to do is pull out your planner and see when your next appointment is. You write everything down. It’s almost a sickness with you.”
“One of many,” Valerie murmured and then shrugged. “Fine. I have one scheduled for next Friday.”
Olivia sputtered a bitter laugh. “Good God, where? Nearly every square inch of your body is covered.”
“I’ll find some space,” Valerie shot back.
The girls glared at each other for long, tense moments before they both relaxed at the same time and started laughing.
“Geez, we’re a pair, aren’t we? We could keep a shrink in business for years.”
Olivia shrugged. “We cope. You hide behind your tattoos; I manifest my emotional pain into physical pain.”
“Hell, who needs a shrink!”
They laughed.
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Fiction under 250 words.
Write From Karen 