Yesterday, my friend Karen and I decided to get tattoos. We arrived, we were informed it would be at least 2 hours before we could get them. Having to be at work in less than two hours, I asked how long it would take to get a rook and tragus piercing. Karen made it clear she was not getting pierced, but she told me to go for it. I had seen these piercings before and I decided I had to have them, they are so hot! After about 5 minutes, and filling out the paper work, I followed my piercer into a small room and sat down.
At A Glance Author Cynthia Contact doyoudareme@hotmail.com When It just happened Artist Chris Studio Ancient Art Tattoo Location Charleston, WV The butterflies began in my stomach. Karen grabbed a seat across from me and sat down. Chris, my piercer, began getting things ready while I sat and tried not to look at what his hands were doing. "If I look at you, I won't be able to do it, because if I see that needle, I will probably pass out," I joked. He cleaned my ear and marked it with a marker and instructed me to turn my head sideways as far as I could. I could feel my heart beating and my hands getting sweaty. I kept singing songs over in my head trying to keep my mind off Chris and his instrument of pain.
"Deep breath in," Chris said. He studied my ear for a moment, then without warning, it hit me... The most excruciating physical pain I have ever felt in my life. I felt like someone had just shoved a burning knife down through my rook.I feel sorry for Chris now, I made his job so much harder because I was all over that seat trying to get away from the pain he had just delivered into my right ear. I jerked away from him and he said as calmly as ever "Sweetie, you have to sit still." It seemed to have lasted forever, but it really wasn't that long.
"Now exhale," he said. At this point I felt like screaming, "quit, quit!" I gritted my teeth and gripped the seat. I glanced at Karen to see her with her mouth gapped open and her eyes as big as 50 cent pieces. Then my ear and neck got very warm, I then saw the blood on my shirt. "Is it bleeding?", I asked. "Ummm, yeah, a lot," Karen stated. At this point I felt like I had gone deaf in my right ear and everything was spinning. "You need to lay down." "Get her something to drink," Chris told my friend. After taking a sip of what was the best grape soda I had ever tasted in my life, I began to regain my strength. I asked Karen, "is it cute"?
"Umm, sweetie, it isn't in yet," Karen stated. "Are you freakin' kidding?" I retorted. "No, the needle is in there, he's go to put the ring in." Karen said. Chris was still cleaning blood off my neck and inner ear. He finished that task and came up beside me with something sharp and was reaching for my new piercing. "What is that?" I asked much louder than I probably should have. "Relax, I'm going to close this, we need to get the ball on here."
Chris asked if I was on any medication and told me he had never seen one gush like that. I was supposed to be getting my tragus pierced as well, but I told Chris if he pierced it, I would probably pass out. He said he understood and he said he could give me a gift certificate to get my tragus done at a later time since I had just paid for it. I was very greatful for this, because I do want to do it, I just want to wait until I am not preoccupied with the rook piercing and the pain that came along with it.
"I don't like my own blood and I just saw a lot of it," I explained to him. I apologized for being such a pansy, and he told me not to worry about it. In all, it took about 10 minutes to clean all the blood up. As for afterwards, I felt no real pain. I can't sleep on it, but I am willing to sacrifice that. It does not throb, it does not bleed anymore, and it does not hurt unless I accidently hit it.
I will go back to get my tragus pierced, but after I forget about the painful rook. I will admit, I do love looking in the mirror and seeing my rook piercing and I love the compliments I receive. I will also admit I would not go through the pain of having a rook pierced again. I will be going back to Ancient Art and getting more tattoos and the tragus piercing. As for Karen, she said my experience has scarred her, and she will have no part in future piercings.