Then he said, “I didn’t get the tattoo because I loved her.” His voice broke. “I got it because I couldn’t forgive myself.”
“I should have told you years ago.”
I looked at him.
“So why didn’t you do it?”
“Because every time you asked, I imagined having to explain what I had done.”
He looked down at the table.
“And each time, I chose the coward’s way out.”