INK

she has been longing for numbness
succumbing
four more hours in the chair

I stare at the kaleidoscope
on her side
my eyes shy away

colors so beautiful 
but they do little to mask the
irritated skin

pink
puffy
glossy with the goo

She confesses to the addiction
needles tap out
validation for her badge of anger

the tattoo over her heart
covers something besides skin