Some days, if I stare hard enough, I can see the scorpion tail on my left hand. Stained into permanence with black ink and sweeping strokes. A stuttering reflection of the cherry blossom on my right.

People often ask me, "What does that mean?".
I usually answer with a change of subject. Have they never written a note on their hand?
Sometimes I say, "Something in Japanese."
The ones that then presume I don't know what my own kanji means are a walking embarrassment. "I'm not you", is what I want to say.

I responded once. To a stranger in a gas station. Confusion clouded his eyes when I answered him simply and honestly-- "Sakura".
"Why would you do that?" was his voiced ignorance.
My laughter was tinny and strained. As I walked away, I told him that he was the reason I didn't tell people what it meant.

I should have said "Because this simple symbol holds more symbolism, meaning and density than your entire life, sir."

11:07 p.m. - 2014-09-30