I got my list on my seventeenth birthday, same as everyone. They’re based on the things that matter, according to the government. Grades, physical state, mental state. You can date whomever you chose before that, but once you get your list, you’re expected to drop everything and find the peorson at the top of your list and settle down with them. The government originally introduced the list system after a global cataclysm whipped out most of our population. It made sense at first, match the perfect people so they can produce the perfect children to repopulate the world. They promised it was temporary, it wasn’t. It’s been seventy-six years, and the rule still stands. People who don’t chose to follow the rule, well, we haven’t heard from them in a while.

————

“You okay? You kind zoned out there for a second.” Cordelia said, brining me out of my daze. I hadn’t been the same for the past few days, but I couldn’t tell her what was wrong. I jsut couldn’t.

“Yeah, just fine. We should get back to work.” We where sitting oh the floor of her room, studying together for our math test at the end of the week. It also gave us an excuse to see each other more often. Cor was my girlfriend, we’d been dating for almost two years. Though people thought our realationship was a bit odd, two girls dating each other, they didn’t care as long as we didn’t have our lists yet.

Worry still aches though her face. “You, um, haven’t gotten your list yet, right? They haven’t sent it yet?”

I looked away. Guilt pooled in my stomache, I couldn’t meet her eyes.

“Oh, you have.” She let go of my hand.

“Cor,” I pulled her hand ont my lap. “I didn’t want to tell you, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you, you deserved to know.”

She nodded, but didn’t meet my eyes. Tears pooled in her eyes, and rolled down her face.

“Oh, Cor…” I whipped away her tears, cupping her face in my hands. Oh, she was so beautiful. Smooth dark skin, heart shaped face, and warm, kind eyes. She was like an angle fallen to the earth, and I was a mere mortal forbidden to touch such beauty.

“I just- I don’t want to end this. To end us.” She waved her hand, gesturing between us. “I- I really love you. And I know it’s selfish, the lists are for the “good of the future population” or some shit like that-“

“Cor,” I cut her off. “I don’t care about that stupid list. I don’t care about what the government and people think. They say that our number one from our list is our perfect match, but that’s not true. You know why?”

She shook her head, her own tears blend with mine. “I know because your my match. I love you, Cordelia. And I don’t care what people think, or how cringy that just sounded.”

She gave a what sounded like a cross between a sob and laugh. Then she kissed me, and it was filled with such passion and beauty. We leaned our foreheads against each other, arms entangled in an embrace. “I love you too, you sabby little puppy.”

I laughed at her answer. ‘Puppy’ was the knickename she had given me, because in her words I looked like a ‘little puppy begging for food scraps’ whenever I playfully asked her for a kiss.

The math study was forgotten. We spent the rest of the afternoon listening to music, reading together, and just enjoying each others presence. We also laughed, flirted, and kissed plenty.

—————

Ah, how I wish I could find love like this. Alas, I’m simply a hopeless romantic, who’s all bi-herself (Bad joke, sorry). I was too tired to fully edit this, so I apologize for any mistakes. Hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading!!!❤️❤️❤️