Even though Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson called off their engagement last October, that does not erase all the positive things about the time spent together. A relationship ending does not devalue the relationship itself, and that’s something Ariana has chosen to honour in her latest tattoo.

It’s no secret that Ariana and Pete Davidson got a lot of ink to celebrate their relationship during their time together, and since breaking up they’ve both covered up some of those tattoos. Pete Davidson covered up an Ariana tribute tattoo on his neck with quite a morbid transformation, and it’s fair for everyone to deal with their heartbreak in their own way.

But Ariana has revealed some new ink that has transformed one of her suspected Pete Davidson tattoos. The original tattoo was one that says ‘Always’ below her ribs, and it was presumed to be written in Davidson’s handwriting.

Obviously in the context of that relationship ending, the sentiment ‘always’ could be considered a bit ironic and just sad. But Ariana has added a branch of leaves growing along her rib cage and enveloping the old tattoo, almost like a frame. She showed off her new tattoo on Instagram with a comment about how she’s ‘evolvin’.

“post run thrus, 3 am with @girlknewyork 🙂 not a cover up just evolvin ? also, our show opens tomorrow. i love u and i’m so grateful. see u soon.” the post reads.

By featuring the original ‘Always’ tattoo inside of the leaf of a branch, the new ink now frames her relationship with Pete Davidson as a phase that is a part of her life and not something she wants to erase. It’s like Ari is turning a ‘new leaf’, and embracing her history as well as her future, and it’s a pretty admirable way to deal with a break up that was so dramatic and publicly scrutinised.

Complete respect to Ariana for this mature example of how closure does not mean erasure.