Ink That Connects Us
This tattoo is shared by me and my girlfriend. We’ve been dating for nearly three years now, and while people often have mixed opinions about getting tattoos with someone you’re not married to, our bond goes beyond a label. She’s not just my girlfriend—she’s my best friend, my soulmate, and the only person who truly sees and loves me through everything, even the challenges I create for myself.
She’s been a blessing in my life, and the growth we’ve experienced together is ongoing. There’s a deep connection between us, something we often can’t explain to others, but we wanted a way to express and honor that connection for ourselves. We both love tattoos, and she’s incredibly creative, so she came up with the idea to design a matching sternum piece—just for us, just for fun.
She knew I always wanted a jellyfish tattoo, and we both wanted to incorporate 713, a number that holds a special meaning for us (her favorite number is 7 and mine is 13—something we discovered early in our relationship). Now we always try to catch 7:13 on the clock and text each other if we’re apart, or exchange a kiss if we’re together.
We also included each other’s birth flowers in the design—hers is a carnation and mine is a rose. She did the original sketch, and our artist, Jenna, adjusted it with some added bubbles and refinements. I loved my girlfriend’s drawing from the start, and it was so special to watch Jenna turn our shared vision into something permanent and real.
The whole process took about seven hours, with back-to-back appointments and just a small break in between. Jenna had already done one of my girlfriend’s earlier tattoos, so I trusted her completely for something this meaningful. She delivered beyond our expectations.
To this day, this is my favorite tattoo I have (and I have five so far). It means the most to me because it’s a piece of both of us. And I hope to keep sharing ink—and life—with my best friend until one day we’re sharing more than tattoos together.