It's been one year since my boyfriend and I got tiny, matching triangles tattooed on our forearms — and nearly six months since we broke up.
I'm not really the superstitious type, but I was leery about the idea even when my now-ex first suggested them. It almost seemed like a jinx — like we were getting cocky or something. "Look, world, look at how in love we are!" is what I imagined these little tattoos would imply to anyone who saw them.
The tattoos don't even hold much significance aside from the fact that they're matching. He wanted us to get something together and thought a little triangle would "look cool." I agreed to it because the size, about as big as a quarter, would not only help it go relatively unnoticed, but also make it easy to get removed or covered up should we break up.
So, get them we did:
Six months later, we ended our 2.5-year relationship.
There were plenty of legitimate reasons for us to break up, but even now, part of me wonders if we doomed ourselves by permanently branding our skin with totems of our affections. Was the whole affair an omen signaling the beginning of the end for us? It's often said that once a relationship starts to sour, one or both parties will start making big moves in an effort to save it. Were matching Valentine's Day tattoos his big move?
Despite my continued reservations about the tattoo, I still don't know if I'll ever remove or even cover it up. The little triangle sits on my arm, every so often drawing questions from new acquaintances and the occasional suitor, at which point I put on my "this is so silly, but…" face and explain the tat's origins. My ex and I are still friends, and I get the distinct impression it would hurt his feelings if I got rid of something he plans on keeping. I know this isn't something I should let affect my decision — it's my body to do with what I want, after all — but I like that we're able to remain close. While I'm sure he would get over it, part of me doesn't want to jeopardize our friendship.
Plus, aesthetically, the tattoo is in no way offensive. (Thankfully we had the foresight not to entertain the idea of getting each other's names or birthdays.) The ink itself is a bit splotchy, but looking at it doesn't bother me at all, at least not in the context of our relationship.
Yes, this small triangle is a reminder of what's technically a failed romance, but the relationship itself wasn't a failure. We were together close to three years, and while we ultimately weren't right for each other, we still mean something to each other. Would it be the worst thing to hold on to a reminder of that?
