It was a slow day at the tattoo shop as most Mondays were that early. Monday was the drop in day for people who wanted to discuss tattoos, book an appointment or get a quick tattoo done. Each Monday always started slow. Luckily for Corey his best friend Baron was there to visit. They both looked up as the bell from the door rang and a young woman entered.

"Look at this little bird," Baron snickered.
"Baron!" Corey gave him a look before looking back at the customer. "Sorry for the caveman here."
"It's alright. It's just words. They can't hurt me," she smiled.
"What's your name?" He asked.
"Dabria," she answered.
"I'm Corey and this is my shop and the caveman and former best friend there is Baron. So what can I do for you, Dabria?" Corey asked.
"Bray recommanded you," she answered.

A brief hint of sadness flushed over Corey's face. Every tattoo artist in town had the highest respect for Bray, and Corey considered him a friend too. Now Bray was sick, dying actually, with cancer. He had tried for a while but he had to close his shop down as he started getting worse. It meant a lot to Corey to hear that Bray recommanded him of all the tattoo artists in town, passing the torch on to him.

"I was wondering if you might be able to finish his work?" She asked.
"Let me have a look," he said.

She walked over and turned her back against him, resting her eyes on Baron while she lifted up her shirt to show Corey her back. Corey couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"No wonder you don't mind the idiot there calling you bird," he said. "Baron, come see this."

Baron got up and walked around her to take a look at her back. A bunch of birds in different colours were tattooed on her. Clearly they had been made one at the time but still they connected with each other.

"Wow," Baron muttered.
"How many are there?" Corey asked.
"14 so far. I'm getting one each month until I reach 22," she answered.
"Why 22?" Baron asked.
"One for each month," she answered.
"Each month of what?" He asked.
"Freedom," she answered.
"Well, pretty bird, sit down and let me give you number 15. Which colour would you like it in?" Corey asked.
"Surprise me. Bray always did that and he's worked wonders so far," she answered.

She walked over to the tattoo chair and pulled her shirt off completely. Baron couldn't help but look at her bra-covered breasts and the almost lightning-shaped scar below her left breast. His view disappeared when she sat down and leaned her front against the back of the chair. Shortly after Corey moved over behind her and started working.

"So, freedom?" He asked. "22 months of being in jail?"
"Jail would have been heaven compared to that. No, I was in an abusive relationship," she answered.
"I'm sorry to hear that," he said.
"Don't be. It's not your fault. I almost spent 2 years, 22 months to be exact, with a crazy motherfucker so after I finally got free I decided to get a bird tattooed each month until I've claimed back those 22 months I endured in hell," she said.
"That's a tough story," he said.
"What happened to make you finally get out?" Baron asked.
"He put a knife to my skin and started slicing and that was the last time I ever saw him. I managed to fight my way out, kick him in the face and run like hell," she answered. "I saw you looking at the scar before"

He looked down, feeling slightly ashamed.

"It's alright. People will always look," she said.

He looked up and was met by a warm smile. She didn't seem sad about sharing her story. Her eyes were glowing and there was just something about her that made him want to get to know her better.

"Sorry for the bird comment," he said, feeling a bit stupid.
"Like I said. Words can't hurt me," she kept smiling.
"But still," he said.
"Bird isn't a bad word to me," she giggled. "I actually liked it when you said it."

Her sweet little giggle made him giggle a bit too. She had gone through hell and come out on the other side. She was a strong woman and he liked that in women. Someone who knew what she stood for and never again would play second fiddle to anything or anyone.

"And you're done," Corey said and put the needle down. "Take a look in the mirror."

She walked over to the mirror and he handed her a little hand mirror so she could see the tattoo that way.

"It's beautiful, Corey. If Bray ever sees this, he's gonna be so proud. It fits perfectly with his work," she said.
"And green works for you?" He said.
"Yeah, I really like it," she smiled widely at him. "Thank you."
"No problem. Thank you for sharing your story," he said.

His eyes went down to the scar she had mentioned that he hadn't seen when she took off her shirt.

"May I?" He asked and pointed at it.
"Sure," she answered.

He went down on one knee to take a closer look at it, running his fingers over it to feel how thick it was.

"Not many tattoo artists will work on a scar like that but I always like a challenge. If you ever want it covered up, I'm your man," he said and got back up.
"I do, actually. Once the 22 birds are done, I'd like it covered with an owl," she said.
"An owl?" Baron asked.
"Owls are wise animals. I want it to symbolize I'm wiser now," she answered.
"Wise choice," Corey winked at his own words. "Now let's get you wrapped up."

He quickly and skillfully wrapped her up. She got her shirt back on afterwards and they moved to the cash register together so she could pay. Baron's eyes never left her while she moved around the shop and finally out of it. Corey looked at his friend who's eyes followed her through the window glass as she moved away.

"Go!" Corey chuckled.
"What? Go where?" Baron asked confused.
"Go ask her out. I can see you're dying to," Corey said.
"Am not!" Baron said as he got up. "But I'll do it to make you happy."
"Whatever you say, fool," Corey laughed.

Baron tried playing it cool as he walked out of the shop but as soon as he was away from the windows where Corey could see him, he started sprinting to reach her further up the road.

"Dabria!" He called out.

She stopped and turned around, looking at him with wonder in her eyes.

"Did I forget something in the shop?" She asked.
"You forgot to give me your phone number," he tried with a sleazy one liner.
"You don't got better game than that?" She asked.

He felt stupid as he tried to think of something, anything, to say and came up with nothing. It wasn't like him to not know what to say around women but this one was different. He felt it in his heart.

"Okay then, nice talk," she said. "See you around."
"No wait," he finally found his voice again. "Sorry for that stupid line. I do wanna take you out on a date though."
"Candlelight dinner and a romantic movie? Hoping to make me jump into bed with you by the end of the evening?" She asked.
"I don't mind the last part but I'm really not the wine and dine type and romantic movies make me fall asleep so the date would be ruined right there," he answered.

She laughed at his boldness but still shook her head.

"I don't date. At least not yet. I wanna wait till the 22 months are over," she said.
"Why?" He asked.
"So I can prove to myself and everyone around me that I'm strong enough to live without a man," she answered.
"Do you actually need to prove that to yourself or is it just the people around you that gives you shit after that motherfucker you last dated?" He asked.

By the look on her face he had nailed it right on the head. He took a step closer and took her hand in both of his, gently rubbing his thumbs over the back of it.

"I'm not your past and I can't promise I'll be your future either. But I'm here right now in front of you, a man who wants to take you out and show you a good time. If you wanna slap me, fuck me or just leave me with the check by the end of the date, I won't complain," he said with a little boyish smile.
"You got some balls," she laughed.
"Balls," he chuckled. "That's it. I'm taking you paintballing and you can shoot the living hell out of me. And then we're gonna go out for a pizza," he said.
"I get to choose the topping?" She asked.
"Now you're stretching it but fine. But only because I'm such a gentleman," he said.
"Of course," she agreed with a little smile.
"Will Friday work for you? Around 4 in the afternoon?" He asked.
"Alright, I'll meet you at the painball track at 4," she answered.
"You don't want me to pick you up?" He asked.
"No, but if you're real good and let me win, I might get into your car afterwards," she answered.

He gave her a big smile and let go off her hand.

"See you Friday, little bird," he said.
"See you, caveman," she said.