Black and grey tattoos of a fox head and a rose on both forearms, with a dagger and small script on the left arm, shown with hands clasped over denim.

Fox and rose tattoos on forearms

Forearm · Black and grey · Photo

The photograph shows a person's forearms with hands clasped in front of a denim garment. The right forearm carries a shaded fox head with a rose above it, and the left forearm has a fox head with a dagger and a line of small script beneath it. A thorny sprig with fine linework appears at the lower left edge of the frame.

Forearm Fox Rose Dagger Script Thorn Animal head

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A story inspired by this tattoo · fiction

Dear Nell,

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The fox came back to the hedge again last night, the one Dad planted the year you were born, the pink rose that never once flowered for him and now flowers like it's showing off. I sat on the step with the lamp out and watched her pick her way through the thorns as if someone had told her where the gaps were. She didn't take a single petal. I think she only came to look at us looking at her.

Mum has finally given up on the yard. The grey van from the auction came on Tuesday and took the trestle table and both of Dad's saws, and I kept the dagger with the bone handle because you always said it was too pretty to sell. It's in my coat pocket now. I cut the bread with it this morning and thought of him frowning at the crust.

There's a card under the clock with your address on it that I haven't posted. I keep meaning to write the things I'd say if you were standing by the gate, but the words come out sideways, like the fox going round the stones. So here is the plain version: the rose is still on the wall, the fox is still out there, and I'd like you home for the first frost, if only to see the place hold together for one more winter.

Write soon, or come and tell me I'm daft.

Love, Hester