The Cross "I don't want to die without any scars." Fight Club "Rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5 3-4 The next time you visit your local beach, make an effort to notice all of the various forms of body art. You can learn a lot about someone by the way they decorate their bodies. Clothing is one thing, but to wear something permanently is enormously revealing. The particular work of art is obviously very meaningful to the subject. So, for me, the question that arises is, "What sort of body art would a nihilist sport?" Of course, the most trendy forms are crossed off right away, unless they are employed as a means of mocking the status quo. Without piercings and tattoos, what is left? This is where the nihilist underground comes through with the future of body art fads. They fall under the name of "scarification." Any technique that produces a scar is viable. Examples include: cutting, burning, injecting, clamping, and the like. For me, I was immediately attracted to the idea of burning. Besides its decreased chances of infection, it struck me as more aesthetically pleasing. This answer is incomplete because I am not entirely sure yet of my own views of aesthetics, but there is something more "natural" (a horrible word, I know, but it catches my meaning atleast somewhat) about burn scars. This gives us another reason to prefer scarification over tattoos and piercngs. But anyways, there is seemingly something "unnatural" in breaking the skin. With burning, the skin is simply molded and indented, or maybe I just have some phobia- if this turns out to be true, I shall have to go back to the systematic desensitivation of 'slash and burn.' The technique is not as important as the design grafted onto your once pure body. What could a nihilist find meaningfull enough to permanently imprint it onto his body? After all, the nihilist finds everything to be meaningless. So perhaps he chooses the idea that he determines to be the least meaningless. Maybe something about philosophy or some leftist utopian propaganda. This seems to be somewhat weak; come on, least meaningless? My predictable answer to the question of what to scar, is more mockery! Instead of choosing to brand myself with a belief of mine which was the least meaningless, I chose the idea that was the most meaningless, and ironically the most meaningful to a great many people. In case you missed the title, I speak of the holy cross. The very same structure that Jesus used to die for you and I, my friend. As a nihilist, and consequently an atheist, this symbol was an obvious choice for winner of the most meaningless award. I find it comical that a professed atheist would do more for Jesus than a Billy Graham devotee, mockery at its finest. With the decisions of method and design in place, the act was all that remained. I decided to peform the operation at midnight, when the newly emerging holiness of Sunday (April Fool's Day, ironically) shone through the murkiness of another wasted Saturday. I drew the crucifix onto my left biceps, and cut out the desired length of metal from an old hanger. My old firecracker lighter was grabbed, and everything placed in a pile on my basement floor. As the time approached, my heart started beating. A wonderful feeling, as I was all to familiar with my bored melancholic affect. I felt alive like when I used to psych myself up for a track race or when I got up to the nerve to call a crush. I heated up my mini metal branding rods and confidently pressed it into my soft skin. I switched instruments and made the perpendicular mark. The first few seconds were somewhat painful, but in a pleasurable way. I let the irons sink into the skin. I heard the melting, but the smell of burnt skin that I'd heard about eluded me. I reheated and went over the marks a few times, to make sure the scar would come out distinct and enduring. Afterwords, an indented, blackened crucifix remained on my arm. After washing it I realized that the blackness was a mixture of both ash and burnt skin. I have many story options available to person who questions my scar. I could satirically act as if I were a devout catholic. Maybe add in a few words about the stigmata. Perhaps I'd pretend to be a frenetic Franciscan. Every once in a while, when I have the time and motivation, I'll tell you about the nihilist underpinnnings. One thing is for sure though, it was a door-opening experience, freeing you might say. I wouldn't be able to give up such experiences without giving up life itself.