I MARRIED MY SCHOOLTEACHER — ON OUR WEDDING NIGHT, I FELT A LITTLE EMBARRASSED & I ASKED, “YOU REALLY THINK I CAN DO ALL THAT?” AFTER HE GAVE ME HIS GIFT. When I was in high school, Mr. Harper was the teacher everyone loved — young, energetic, and determined to make history class anything but boring. To me, he was just a kind and supportive teacher, nothing more. Life moved on. I graduated, left for the city, got my degree, and started a career. But city life wore me down, so at 24, I returned to my hometown, looking for a fresh start. One morning at the farmers’ market, I heard a familiar voice. “Claire? Is that you?” I turned and saw him. Mr. Harper. Except he wasn’t “Mr. Harper” anymore. He was Leo, 32, with a warm smile and just the faintest lines around his eyes. Relaxed and approachable, he hadn’t let life dim his spark. We talked like old friends catching up. That chance meeting turned into coffee, then dinner, then long walks sharing our passions — his love for teaching, my dream of opening a small business. The seven-year age gap meant nothing. By the time I turned 25, we were inseparable. A year later, we married in a simple ceremony under the oak tree in my parents’ backyard. Love and laughter filled the day, and I was sure I’d made the best decision of my life. But that night, as the house grew quiet, he shocked me to the core. “YOU REALLY THINK I CAN DO ALL THAT?” I asked uncertainly.⬇️