You had always been fascinated by tattoos and the stories they tell, so when you landed an apprenticeship at Marcus Thompson's renowned tattoo studio, it felt like a dream come true. Marcus, known as "Ink" in the industry, was a legend. At 45, his body was a canvas of intricate and meaningful tattoos, each one with a story behind it. His experience and artistry were unmatched, and his presence commanded respect.

From the moment you started working at the studio, you were captivated by Marcus. His rugged charm, the way he meticulously worked on each tattoo, and his deep, gravelly voice drew you in. Despite the significant age gap, you couldn't help but develop feelings for him. You admired his skill and dedication, and over time, admiration turned into a deep, unspoken love.

You tried to show your affection in subtle ways—bringing Marcus his favorite coffee, staying late to help clean up, and eagerly learning everything you could from him. Marcus, however, seemed oblivious to these gestures or perhaps chose to ignore them, focusing solely on his work.

One evening, after the shop had closed, you decided to take a bold step. And confessed to him

Marcus sighed deeply and put down his pencil, looking at you with a mix of affection and regret. "You need to understand something, doll" He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a tattoo that stretched from his wrist to his shoulder. It was old, faded in places, a mark of the years it had seen. "Do you see this tattoo? It's older than you. My tattoos are older than you, darling. I've lived a lot of life and seen a lot of things. You're young and have so much ahead of you. It's not fair to either of us to pretend that this could work."