A young woman claims she's been left feeling guilty after getting matching "love you always" tattoos with her male best friend, against his girlfriend's strongly held wishes.
The 19-year-old says she's a lesbian and has completely platonic feelings towards her pal Devon, 20, who she's known since her early teenage years.
They'd spoken about getting matching tattoos for years, and eventually opted for a heart-shaped lightbulb design emblazoned with the affectionate words "I’ll be your light, love you always."
The ink had been intended to signify their strong friendship, with the pair having been each other's "light" during times of mental health difficulties.
However, his girlfriend Bianca, to who he had been considering proposing, regarded the design to be just "too romantic" and begged them not to go along with it.
When they did so anyway, she reacted with fury, ordering them to get their new body art removed, regardless of how innocent their intentions may have been.
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Taking to Reddit, the unnamed woman, who goes by the username u/throwaway7282829292, clarified neither she nor Devon wished to have their tats removed.
However, she does feel bad about Bianca's reaction and doesn't want to be the cause of any friction between the couple.
She wrote: "Bianca called me and started freaking out. Apparently, I’m a horrible person and the tattoo was too romantic (even though it was not. We’re just extremely close friends.
"I’m sure she has friends she would say 'I love you' to. It’s not a big deal). But now she’s saying she wants it to be removed and I really don’t know what to do."
One fellow Reddit user advised: "I don't think anyone here disagrees that it's possible for a man and a woman to be platonic best friends. It's getting a heart-shaped tattoo that says literally 'I'll be your light, love you always'. Anyone who sees that is going to assume it refers to a romantic partner.
"And for Devon's girlfriend (or any other partner he has in his life), it will imply that they will always be second to her. This just doesn't jive with most people. It's generally thought that your significant other should be your best friend, the number one.
"I think it's very, very hard for anyone to accept their boyfriend or husband putting another woman ahead of them in terms of love and closeness."
Another commented: "You guys are publicly and permanently declaring love for each other. With a heart-shaped tattoo. That is super weird and uncomfortable.
"Bianca will be reminded every day that she will always come second to you, and will never be the biggest priority in Devon’s life. You two are both very inconsiderate of her feelings."
Have you had a tattoo you later came to regret? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
