What does tattoo represent?

The tattoo in “The New Veterans” is symbolic of both the past and human nature. Crafted onto Zeiger’s back by a man named “Cuz” just outside of Fort Hood, the tattoo depicts the day of Mackey’s death in Iraq. The tattoo ymbolizes the physical burden that Zeiger carries, and warps and grows worse as a physical manifestation of his guilt over believing he is responsible for Mackey’s death. By working on, and altering the tattoo supernaturally through massage, Beverly is able to manipulate and alter Zeiger’s memories of that day, thus changing the natural order of bad memories having a negative impact on Zeiger in the present.