Being "special" is, without exaggeration, a basic requirement in a romantic relationship.

And this is also a basic requirement in a relationship, to feel appreciated and "special". It should be mutual and this is what quality relationships of any duration, even short ones, should be built on.

There is nothing surprising in the request that your partner sees you as a special person, otherwise why are you together at all?

There is no point in staying in a relationship with a person you do not find attractive on a physical and mental level and without the chemistry between you, which makes everything unique and special.

And even if someone does not care about the person who loves them and sees them as special without reciprocity, then they can at least think about themselves and their own well-being.

After all, even if they do not care about another person, then they should care at least about themselves and they should not want to be in a relationship with a person who is not special to them.