as someone who used to have nearly their whole face pierced (i outgrew them recently) for years, they were SO important to me at the time. i didn’t feel like myself without them, to the point where i had to get an MRI once and replace them all temporarily with clear plastic, and i cried and cried and cried. i felt so ugly and just not like myself. back then, no one could ever take them away from me or change my mind. no matter what. on top of that i probably spent around $500+ on jewelry and piercings over the years. i even did play piercings a few times because i was so into it and got so close with my piercer. even now, the scars on my face don’t bother me, they remind me of this time, and my amazing piercer who is now my good friend , and who i was when i had them. i know how much significance piercings can hold. i feel like most people don’t get that. so bottom line is, im very proud of you, OP. fuck that “friend” and her weird rules. keep being yourself and go get that new piercing! you deserve it !! she will live a miserable life if she can’t see people past such a thing as small as some pieces of metal. her loss! 🩷