I Got a Matching Tattoo on Vacation with My Boyfriend—and Then He

2024-07-24
Posted by PSEDEN

What a Jack!

Cora Hayes, a native of Sydney, Australia, got a pair of tattoos with her summer lover, Jack, while backpacking through Europe. Just like the tattoos, Hayes thought the love would last forever—until Jack disappeared on their second date.

Hayes posted a series of TikTok videos on her account @meowinthehat revealing the downfall of her cross-border love story.

According to JFK News & Media, the love-struck couple met on Hinge and “hit it off right away,” getting “identical” lemon tattoos within 24 hours of meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland.

“We went to a tattoo parlor and got a lemon tattoo. There was no particular reason, but we both agreed to get a lemon tattoo so we got the same tattoo at the same time,” Hayes shared.

Hayes, 22, revealed that the first date went so well that they decided to get together again in Hayes’ native Scotland after she finished her tour of England.

“I messaged him and said I was traveling and could come back. He said, ‘Sure, come back. I’d love to see you again,’ ” she recalled.

The two made plans for a second date, and Hayes bought a $181 ticket from England to Scotland.

“I sent him my flight details and made sure the dates and everything was right. During that time, we were messaging and everything was going great,” she added.

However, as time went on, the retail assistant realised that her potential boyfriend had “disappeared” just two days before her flight.

“I got a message saying, ‘Hey, I’m really sorry, something’s happened at home. I can’t come this weekend. Hope you get home safe.’ He knew I wasn’t going to be back in Australia for a month but he didn’t try to change the date,” Hayes revealed.

The Australian thought Jack had made up an excuse, but she remained optimistic and flew to her sweetheart’s hometown, even though she knew no one else there.

There, she made sure to post her whereabouts online so Jack could see she was in the area, but all he did was watch her Instagram stories instead of contacting her.

“No matter how you feel about the situation, disappearing is no excuse. That’s the part I can’t understand. Tell me this isn’t going to work,” she sighed.

After four nights in a shared dorm with two Australian girls, Hayes left Australia on June 20, filled with “panic” and a feeling of abandonment.

“I blamed myself and thought I wasn’t good enough. I blamed myself. But the way someone treats you is a reflection of them, not of you. You just have to know your worth,” she lamented.

Hayes later discovered that Jack stood her up because she was “too pushy” and “I lived in Australia and he didn’t want to get hurt.”

Hayes was irritated by his own lack of transparency and honesty, and he knew reconciliation was impossible.

“It’s just crazy, in my opinion, to put someone in the dark like that. I don’t know how you can do that. I think it’s horrible — and they’re right here in your hometown,” she said.

Despite Hayes’ unfortunate love story, she was able to form another kind of connection with her dorm roommates, who decided to get lemon tattoos like her after she revealed the reason for her journey.

“It was very inspiring. It was kind of like, af–k you. For him, the tattoo was still the same story, but for me, it became a story of friendship and girlhood. He’ll never forget me.”

Although Hayes’ trip turned out differently, she still “loved Edinburgh” because she was able to see Jack’s true self and form new friendships.

“Just remember that you’re a good person and that there are people who love you. There are people who love you. There’s a lot of love out there, even if it’s not romantic love.”