Competition Nineteen Highly Commended: Over Her Heart, A Tattoo – Here Be Dragons by Jude Potts
Over her heart, a tattoo: an ancient map and the words ‘Here Be Dragons’ in faded ink.
Sometimes a fearless pirate would set sail, cutlass strapped to his belt, mind’s eye filled with treasure. A few weeks becalmed on the sea of her indifference was usually enough to make them turn back in search of safer harbours and spiced rum.
This one was different.
He sang her bawdy shanties, and her inner Kraken kept time with a salty jig. He spun her stories of distant lands, and with each tale, a new detail appeared on the map; the pirate navigated around the sharp, hidden rocks of her grief, avoided the endless chasm of her boredom.
On he sailed.
She liked the cut of his jib and admired his colourful parrot. She became curious about his tattoos, trailed an inquisitive finger over anchors and swallows and a majestic ship’s figurehead that covered his back. As she traced the outstretched wings and streaming golden hair she was surprised to find coils of raised scars hidden underneath.
‘We all find different ways to hide our pain.’
She never asked him how he got his scars; he never insisted she explain the dragons and the hidden details on the map of her heart. Every day a new marker appeared: on he sailed, navigating storms and calms just the same, until one day there were no more dragons and she bowed her head and her breath hovered, feather-light on his back. She traced his pain with her lips and his soft sighs sounded like the tide coming home.
Jude is a full-time carer and some-time writer of flash fiction focusing on wry, dry and sly looks at human failings (usually her own). She believes shared joy and humour can change the world for the better and tries to contribute. Once (accurately) called a pickled plum by the school photographer.
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