The Red Rose Tattoo
By: Dawn DeBraal

She rubbed her wrist, inflamed and sore, as she left the tattoo parlor. What had she been thinking? If Lorraine didn't feel the same about her, Vada was screwed. In a gesture of desperation, she put into action a plan she'd thought about for a long time. She and Lorraine fought over the neighbor chick about how she felt Lorraine was getting too friendly with Gloria. Vada accused her, and Lorraine told her to leave.

Why was she like that, so jealous all the time? Vada didn't like that about herself. Even though she tried to keep those feelings in check, they always got the best of her and ended relationships.

Vada envisioned going back to their apartment, making up with Lorraine, and then asking her to be her forever partner. When Lorraine said yes, Vada would pull up her sleeve and show Lorraine the depth of her commitment. It was a romantic gesture, getting this tattoo—physical proof of their love.

Sore to the touch, the fresh scar depicted a rose whose thorny stem spelled "Lorraine" in cursive writing. Vada had come up with the idea herself. Lorraine was beautiful but could also prick you like the thorns on a rose.

As she drove home, Vada imagined Lorraine and her celebrating their love after she proposed. Hurrying up the steps, her heart full of emotion, she unlocked the door, but no one was there.

Vada tossed her keys in the basket, surprised that Lorraine didn't meet her. Walking to the back of the apartment, Vada opened the bedroom door and saw Lorraine with Gloria. They were too busy to notice her intrusion. Vada closed the door quietly, fuming. She was right all along. Lorraine was seeing Gloria.

After letting the neighbor out, Lorraine locked the door. Turning, she noticed the basket on the stand. She fingered the keys in the bowl. The realization on Lorraine's face was priceless. Vada watched her partner through the cracked bathroom door.

"Vada?" Lorraine asked uncertainly. She flew out of the bathroom, putting her hands to Lorraine's cheating throat, squeezing the life from her. That's how she envisioned it going down, but it didn't happen that way. Instead, Vada flushed the toilet, washed her hands, and walked into the living room.

"How long have you been home?" Lorraine asked, looking guilty.

"Just got here." Would her former lover tell the truth? Lorraine remained silent. Vada pulled her sleeve down, covering the new tattoo that was raw and sore, just like their relationship had become.

"Oh, look, Gloria is out watering her garden," Vada said, looking out the window. Lorraine opened it putting her head out.

"Hi, Gloria." Gloria waved back. She couldn't take it, Vada put her foot on Lorraine's butt, pushing her out the window. Lorraine plummeted four stories.

She couldn't do it. Vada couldn't kill Lorraine, and she wouldn't ask her to share their lives, not now, not ever.

"Close the window. It's getting cold." Lorraine pushed the window down, still watching Gloria with a slight smile on her face.

Vada sat down on the couch, and sulked. There's a thin line between love and hate, she and Lorraine crossed it today. Vada imagined in her mind what she was going to do to Lorraine to get back at her, but then sighed when her sleeve hiked up her arm. She was desperately trying to reign in her emotions. And now, she was stuck with this red rose tattoo on her wrist, marking her foolishness forever.

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