This is Kirsten’s tattoo:

This tattoo is from a book called The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It is a fantasy book, which is a genre I don’t usually read, but it is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. This is the full text: I smiled, “Deoch, my heart is made of stronger stuff than glass. When she strikes she’ll find it strong as iron-bound brass, or gold and adamant together mixed. Don’t think I am unaware, some startled deer to stand transfixed by hunter’s horns. It’s she who should take care, for when she strikes, my heart will make a sound so beautiful and bright that it can’t help but bring her back to me in winged light.”

I got this tattoo at the end of last summer. It was the best summer and the worst couple months of my life. Tragedy and heartbreak piled up and all the while I was having fun and loving as hard as I could. I realized that we are bigger than our pain and that nothing will ever break me completely. It was very painful but I never regretted it for a second. We are all so much stronger than we know.