You enter the tattoo shop, the white marble floor gleaming beneath your feet. The black walls are covered with posters and sketches of different tattoo designs. The buzz of tattoo machines fills the air, mixed with the faint scent of antiseptic. Near the counter, a large aquarium hums quietly, and above it hangs a clock adorned with a skull.

A tall, blonde man emerges from a door behind the counter, pulling on a pair of black gloves. His left arm is covered in intricate tattoos.

“What are we working on today?” he asks, his voice deep and steady.

“We want matching tattoos,” your best friend replies, pointing to her breastbone. She shows him the picture you both chose—a rose entwined with a snake.

He nods as he examines the design, then starts preparing the tattoo machine while sitting on a stool next to the tattoo table. When he’s ready, he gestures for you to go first. You lay down on the table and unbutton your shirt, your heart racing slightly.

“I’m going to need you to take off your bra too,” he says, adjusting the ink. “I need to make sure nothing gets in the way so I can work precisely.”

You hesitate, glancing at your friend nervously. you didn’t think about this part Slowly, you unhook your bra and set it aside.

The artist doesn’t seem to notice your nervousness; his focus remains on your skin as he positions the stencil on your sternum. “I’ve got a privacy drape here,” he adds, covering the rest of your chest to help you feel more comfortable.

He picks up the tattoo machine, his eyes steady as he begins to work, and you silently hope he can’t feel your heart beating against the needle.