Zhi Xingyun

The wet droplets of water feel cool underneath my fingertips as I trace over the engraving of my father's name on his tombstone.

I picked up the sunflowers that he always loved and placed them beside him. I then placed down mama's favorite lillies beside hers.

We had gotten back to New York and I decided to commemorate them here beside the ocean.

Papa and Mama always loved it here. We always came here for brief vacations.

I situate myself between them and pull my knees up to my chest before looking out over the beautiful blue ocean.

I let my eyes close as I bask in the smell of saltwater, the coos of seagulls, and the clashes of waves as they hit the sand. The howling of the wind as it whips my hair in all directions.

It was peaceful.

I open my eyes and look towards the sky. I then lay on my back against the grass as I raise one hand up towards the clouds.

"I love you."

My eyes sting with tears.

"We got back safely from our flight. I hope you like this place. I remember how papa always threw me into the water and mama, you always yelled at him for doing so." I said aloud towards the clouds.

A small smile made its way onto my face.

"I don't know if he hear me from up there..."

I stand up, head raised high towards the clouds, hands hollowed around my lips.

"I LOVE YOU!" I scream with everything in me as I swallow back a sob.

Just as I let my hands fall to my side, a flow of a leaf falls onto my shoulder.

I choke out a laughter at the sheer possibility that this might just be a sign from them.

I kneel by the tombstones one last time and kiss my two fingers before placing them on the engravings.

I wipe away my tears and wobble over to Enzo's car that was parked beside the beach.

Enzo is leaned up against his car as he stares hard at the sea.

I creep up to him and wrap my arms around his waist. He tenses for a minute before realizing it was me and immediately wraps me up in his warmth.

"Are you cold amore?" He asks softly.

I shake my head.

We stand there, in each other's warmth as we watch the sun set. The sky turning into a mixture of deep orange, red, pink, and now a mixture of blue and black.

"Mama would've loved you." I say, breaking the silence.

Enzo places his chin on top of my head.

"She always wanted me to meet someone like papa. Cold, grumpy, but such a teddy bear."

"I am not a teddy bear." He says sternly.

I can't help but let out a giggle.

Enzo pulls apart slightly and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Let's go." I say.

He tilts his head at me in question.

"I want to get a tattoo." I say sheepishly.

Enzo smiles and opens the passenger door for me to which I thank him and slide in.

"What would you get?" He asks as he starts up the engine and starts towards the main roads.

"Yin and Yang symbol. Papa and Mama always loved that symbol. They said it represented our family. Represented their love. Darkness yet it was beautiful. Light that didn't blind anyone. Balance that controlled the chaos. Papa always said mama was his yang. The light that sparked through his darkness." I explained as I leaned my head against the window.

Enzo glances at me with love as he traces patterns on my thigh causing butterflies to form in the pit of my stomach.

Enzo then pulls into a parking spot and stops the car.

He gets out and opens my side of the door.

I grab ahold of his hand and we walk towards the tattoo shop.

I watch as kids eat ice cream with their parents and giggle whenever they get some on their chin.

I smile at the image.

We walk into the shop and I immediately feel myself stare at everything in admiration.

There were so many different types of drawings of tattoos plastered on the wall.

"Enzo!" A buff and intimidating man yells as he pats Enzo on the shoulder.

He had a buzz cut with a bread and scar across his left eye.

"What will it be this time?" The man asks as he goes over to one of the seats.

"Not me. Her." Enzo says as he points to me.

The man then turns his head and only just notices me, "Who might you be?"

I smile up at him, "She's my lover."

I blush at Enzo's endearment towards me and quickly sit down to hide my tomato face.

I explain to the man what I wanted.

"Where?" He asks as he gets out a drawing marker.

I ponder over it for a moment, "Here."

I point towards the inside of my right wrist.

He gives me a nod and begins drawing in the tattoo. I squeeze Enzo's hand for support as I was scared of how painful this might be.

"It's going to be okay." Enzo reassured me as he plays with my fingers.

"Ready?" The man asks as he looks at me with the tattoo gun in one hand.

I nod and chew on my bottom lip.

To my shock, the pain wasn't too bad. Some parts hurt more than the others.

Before I knew it, the tattoo was done and the man wrapped my wrist up in plastic. I look and admire my newly made tattoo in awe.

Enzo comes u from behind me and takes my wrist in his.

"Do you like it?" He asks.

"."

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