Carved in Scars

by Elle Mitchell

To the ones who really needed a light in a dark place but had to be their own. This is for you.

Only one life per customer. Try not to fuck it up. But that’s what I did.

“Anyway, I’ll see you later,” Darci adds. “I should try to find her. Make sure my brother didn’t sacrifice her to the Dark Lord or some shit.” “See ya,” he says, then closes the door behind him. “The Dark Lord, really?” I whisper when I hear her footsteps on the stairs. “Voldemort?”

“Because I like being in your orbit. And I want to know where you go.”

We all come into the world as blank canvases. And we leave it carved in scars

We come into the world as blank canvases—all of us. Innocent, eager for love. Then the world gets ahold of us and leaves us with scars we don’t deserve, that we never asked for. But like I said before,

it feels better to let it out, even if it’s only temporary.

I close my eyes and wonder how long it’s been since someone touched me like this—out of kindness. I hope he doesn’t see me cry.

“I think you all know who I am. I’m Devon. And I missed a bunch of school because I was arrested for a crime I didn’t

commit…all because that girl right there didn’t want people to know she was fucking me.”

“And Ally?” His serious tone stops me. “Hmm?”

“There’s nothing wrong with you. Not a damn thing.”

Whatever it means, I like it—both because she’s a talented artist and because it’s her, and I’d let her carve anything she wanted into my skin.

She shakes her head. “You bring me joy, Devon. That’s it—that’s the entire list.”

“If you’re going to try and grab my dick in a room full of people like a thirsty slut, then I’m going to take you upstairs and fuck you like one. Is that what you want?”

Now, Halloween is the holiday that reminds me that I’m alone.

“Now we’re both carved in scars,” he says. “I won’t be able to forget, either.”

I finally made it to the next part. The good part.

Etched in ink or carved in scars. It’s us. Against the world.