Most people have a best friend they would do anything for…
Whether it’s a sister, the girl you sat with in primary school, or your confidante from your first real job where you were secretly frightened you’d be exposed as an imposter.
For Jessica Tholmer, she made friends with someone incredibly special while working as a barista. This girl, who Jessica chose to keep anonymous, was recently diagnosed with an auto-immune disease.
She was frightened by a lot of the news she was given about her illness, including the fact she would start to lose the ability of using her hands.
Confiding in Jessica, her friend said she was scared to lose her penmanship – something Jessica writes is “noticeable, unique, important, and gorgeous.”
So Jessica decided to add to her unique tattoo collection of quotes, inscribing a story on her body that will likely remain her favourite meaning.
Seeing her friend embrace her health struggle, Jessica wrote:
“Malcolm X has always give me my words, my encouragement, and my hope. Though you can google “Malcolm X quotes” and come up with hundreds of results, the quote that stood out to me this particular re-read was not one of his most famous ones.
““Stumbling is not falling” stuck out to me this time around. I don’t know if it was because of what I was experiencing at the time, or if it was because the sentiment was too deep for me when I was younger, but I could not get the line out of my head.”
Having her friend write the quote in her own handwriting, Jessica had the inking on her foot as a reminder of the support she’ll have in a friend walking beside her:
Jessica added:
“My friend is doing well. She had her first baby this year and I am happy to report she has been able to hold her. I don’t know how life would be without my hero’s words in my dear friend’s handwriting permanently on my foot. I am so lucky.”
That’s a love that only a best friend can understand.
H/T Jessica Tholmer as told to Hello Giggles
