[ WP ] In a world where everyone has multiple tattoos , you do not have any . At all . Tell me why .

`` The Dolphin represents my freedom,'' she says, chewing gum as she speaks, `` cos, like, I do n't live by anyone's rules. And the lotus on my shoulder? It's because, like, I'm a rare breed.'' 
 
 `` And that's it?'' 
 
 `` I got more. A wolf on my foot. I'm social, see? Pack animal when I'm with my girls. Like we're ferocious y'know?'' 
 
 I'm tuning out and it's obvious. She's just... 
 
 The bell rings and I'm talking to another one. Black hair, secretary glasses, a smile to kill for. And a spiral pattern crawling from her neck to her eyes. Before I can say anything she starts talking. 
 
 `` I know, I know. It's unusual is n't it? What can I say? I'm unique and this pattern shows it. What do you think?'' 
 
 `` It's uh. I've not seen anyone with ink like that before.'' 
 
 `` Exactly! All my others are, you know, kind of generic. The off the wall things right? Well this one, being a face one, it had to be different you know?'' 
 
 Number three comes quickly. She looks old for her age. I quickly find out that's because she's a single mother who has three children. Each one has tattooed something different on their mother and sent her back into the world. It's almost impressive that she found time to come to a speed dating night like tonight. She tells me this much herself before explaining her ink. Christ. Everyone is obsessed with their tattoos. 
 
 The rest of the night crawls by. The final single I meet is has the number one tattooed on every inch of her skin. By this point in the night I've had a little too much wine and talked to one too many people to care anymore. I point at it and ask what it means. 
 
 `` It means there's only one of me.'' 
 
 `` Well, duh.'' 
 
 `` I mean there's only *one* of me. I ca n't be held to any standards because there'll never be another of me to compare against. So I'm the best. Cool is n't it?'' 
 
 *No* I think. 
 
 `` No,'' I say. 
 
 On my way home I stop and look into the window of a tattoo parlour and think about getting one. Perhaps a dragon? Or a snake? Or my name in hieroglyphics. 
 
 Finally though I decide against it. I do n't want to be like them, obsessed about myself. Telling lies repeatedly until I believe them myself. No. I'll keep my untarnished skin because that means I'm me. It means I am unique.
