From Lukov with Love

by Mariana Zapata

I was the fucking poster child for it. The poster child for being a letdown of a human being, daughter, sister, and friend.

“It’s my goal. For once, I can be someone’s favorite.”

“You’re enough. You will always be enough. Hear me?”

“I believe in you. In us. Regardless of what happens, you will always be the best partner I’ve ever had. You’ll always be the hardest working person I’ve ever known. There will only ever be you.”

Whatever happens, he mouthed to me. But then his lips kept forming words. Three words exactly. I love you.

“You’re not ever going to be anyone else’s partner. Not while I’m alive, Meatball. I will drag your stubborn, beautiful ass kicking and screaming back to me because nobody else will ever be good enough for you.”

“Because I’m okay with you having ten other people be your favorite. But you’re always going to be my favorite person,” he finished. “Always. No matter what.”