Daniel stood outside a tattoo shop, nineteen years old and grinning.
A square of gauze was taped behind his ear.
I flipped to another photo.
Daniel and Marcus at a diner.
Marcus was laughing with his head turned.
His ear completely visible.
No tattoo.
Nothing.
I remembered Daniel’s teasing.
Marcus had chickened out.
Then another thought hit me.
Marcus had started wearing his hair slightly longer around six months earlier.
Six months.
I said it aloud.
The next morning, I went to his house.
“SHOW ME YOUR EAR.”
Marcus opened the door in sweatpants and an old T-shirt.
The dark circles beneath his eyes told me he hadn’t slept either.
“I thought you might come.”
I stepped inside.
Daniel’s old travel mug was sitting beside the coffee machine.
Suddenly, I hated seeing it there.
“Turn around.”
Marcus sighed.
“Evelyn.”
“Please.”
He turned his head.
In the morning light, the compass was even clearer.
