My December Darling

by Lauren Asher

She probably thought I did it strictly because I like to annoy her, but I just think her name is beautiful.

I love Gabriela, but that doesn’t mean I won’t hold back from an opportunity to tease her. It’s practically expected of me, not only as her older sister, but as someone who took on the difficult task of helping her realize it’s okay to make mistakes, take some risks, and live a life that makes her happy.

“Whoa. I didn’t think your internal software was capable of such a sound. Are you malfunctioning? Is there a 1-800 number I can call to get you help?”

Tonight, I didn’t only make Catalina Martinez laugh, but smile twice, and I’ll be damned because I’m already looking forward to when I can do it again.

“I would never dare, Doctor Darling.” He beams. “Say that again.”

“Please. At this rate, I will be begging for scraps of your attention.”

“If you wanted me on my knees for the full effect, all you needed to do was ask.”

“So long as you’re laughing, that’s all that matters to me.”

“See something you like?” he says.

“Making the most of two weeks with you seems better than spending a lifetime wondering what could’ve been.”

I pull away, but she lets out a growly protest and tugs me back with a “not yet.”

“There’s no place I’d rather be than here with you,”

“I’d do it all over again to see the smile on your face when you saw it.”