– Michael R. Mantell

Sometimes I wish I had a scar; evidence of some strong battle, a manifestation of the pain that once was. Emotional scarring is invisible and so abstract; its scar is the feeling that still follows years later. Maybe a need for a scar is a need to feel strong, to feel like a survivor. I’m still here though, which should make me feel enough like a survivor.

My only “scar” is my tattoo. Maybe it was a subconcious attempt to visualize the pain.