The Meaning Behind the Ink: The Story

My tattoo is a cover-up with a lot of meaning. When I was 18, I tattooed the words “lo siento” on my arm as a way of carrying the guilt I felt after losing my grandfather to cancer. He was the most important person in my life, and I blamed myself for not being there for him as much as I wished I had in his final days. That tattoo was born from self-hatred and grief.

Now, years later, I’ve grown through a journey of healing, self-love, and hope. I covered it with a stained glass sunset—my grandfather’s favorite time of day. It represents that he’s still with me, not through guilt, but through love and beauty. It’s a reminder to look for joy in the small, beautiful moments, just as he would have wanted me to.