All I've Wanted All I've Needed

by A.E. Valdez

Even though everything feels like it’s falling apart, I can’t help but to also feel like everything is falling into place.

“I feel all three of us are constantly changing, growing, and leveling up. Like a butterfly. I’m proud of us.”

Bali has been healing for my heart. I’ve been able to find myself again. Fall in love with myself again. I’m ready for the next chapter of my life. This tattoo is a representation of all that I hope and dream. A representation of my journey for more.

“There’s nothing wrong with being committed to yourself. When you’re not focused on love, that’s when it sweeps you up.”

The problem with comfort is that it makes it easier to slip into routines. It makes it easier for us to become stagnant. I don’t want to be stagnant, and that’s what I felt like with him. That I wasn’t growing and exploring.

I want the chance to know myself outside of being in a relationship. I want to fall in love with myself. No, I need to fall in love with myself.

People can tell you what you are all day, but you really have to believe it yourself for you to be able to embody it. I’m getting there.

First, Harlow is comfortable enough with me to be herself which makes me feel good because I think she spends a lot of time second guessing herself. The second thing I learned is that Kyrell is one hundred percent right. She is magnetic.

but the truth is that I’ve never felt uncomfortable with Acyn. Sure, he can be a bit of an ass, but I’ve always felt like I can be myself with him.

“Stop acting like you owe everybody something. You don’t owe anyone anything. The only person you owe something to is yourself. It’s okay to walk away from something that isn’t working for you.”

When you start being yourself, you attract people who you naturally vibe with.

But I found my footing, and then our relationship became exhausting because he was treating me as if we were still together. As if he had a say in what I did and didn’t do. Slowly, the hope of working things out faded. I didn’t want to put forth the effort for a friendship with him. Let alone a romantic relationship. But then… Acyn happened.

“You’re all I’ve wanted,” he says. “And you’re all I’ve needed,” I reply.

I’ve lost myself in him but in exchange have also found myself in

He kisses my forehead. “You never need to thank me. I got you… always.” This is what it feels like to fall in love… to be in love. He’s all I’ve wanted. All I’ve needed.

“What did I do to deserve this?” I take the plate he’s holding out to me. “You exist. That’s all you need to do.”

There was no one before her. There will never be another after her. There is only her. Only us. All I’ve wanted. All I’ve needed.

We’re all deserving of happiness and of a love that’s so deep that you only discover the depths to which it goes with each passing day as your love grows.