I have one tattoo, a relic of my youth, and maybe I can comfort you a little bit by assuring you the experience is nothing like an open wound. It's just ink being injected under the skin with tiny needles. There's a little pain involved in the process, but not much pain. And nothing is open. If you like, you can do what I did — keep a bandage over the tattoo for two or three days until the body's ordinary inflammation response subsides, by which time the tattoo looks like it's supposed to.

Sorry, I realize this is a rather trivial point to comment on out of everything you wrote, but it's one thing I actually have experience with and can reassure you over.

If I could, I'd reassure you about everything.

Instead, I'll thank you for a beautifully written, vulnerable story. Your prose is lovely and your courage is remarkable.