[8:42pm]
Scars and bruises littered his body, black run-down vans with the signatures of his friends scribbled in sharpie on the side, loose-fitting brown cargo pants that had snacks for later in them, a long-sleeved thrashers shirt with their signature flames on the side, and finally, a single black beanie that covered his poorly-taken-care-of black and blonde hair.
He’d skate around the city with his friends, periodically falling and laughing, and finally breaking out into the most beautiful smile when he landed a trick, exclaiming ‘yes!’ as he jumped around, getting up to do it again. His board was filled with scuffs and the wheels were near time to replace, but nevertheless, it had a nostalgic charm. On the underside of his favorites skateboard, was a lion that you drew for him when he first met you. Sometimes you’d catch him staring at it, wiping the dirt off of it with his sleeves.
Mark was rough around the edges, never without a bandaid, never without his board, and never without his signature breathtaking smile. Mark was shy, choosing to scratch his neck in awkwardness rather than talk to the new people his friends invited out. Mark was perseverant, and no matter the number of times he fell down and nearly broke his neck, sprained his ankle, or otherwise, he always got up again, and again, and again. You couldn’t help but watch him from the tattoo studio you apprenticed at, he was always in the park in front of it.
The first time he came in and saw you, it only took a few minutes of conversation to convince him to let you draw something on the back of his beloved board. “It’s a lion! Doesn’t it look like you?” Mark scratched the back of his neck, as usual, “I guess it kinda does...thanks.” And the next day, he came back, inviting you out to watch him skate with his friends. Of course, you’d accepted.
Mark’s heart was on his sleeve, but he was strong. And luckily, he presented the sleeve of his forearm to you so you could sketch your love onto him. And of course, you first tattoo was a simple one.
A black and blonde lion with a beanie. He loved it, but mostly, he loved you.














