I never expected to see my high school teacher, Mr. Harper, years later in a crowded farmers’ market. He wasn’t “Mr. Harper” anymore—he was just Leo. Our chance meeting quickly turned into a coffee date, then dinner, and before long, we were inseparable. Despite a seven-year age gap, the connection was undeniable.
A year later, we married in a small ceremony in my parents’ backyard. That night, Leo gave me a gift: a worn notebook with my teenage dreams written inside. “I kept this because I knew you’d make them come true,” he said.
Tears welled in my eyes. “You really think I can do all this?”
He smiled. “I don’t think. I know.”
Inspired by his belief in me, I left my desk job to pursue my dream of opening a bookstore café. With Leo by my side through every step, we made it a success.
Now, as I watch Leo and our child at our thriving shop, I can’t help but think back to that notebook. “I really did marry the right teacher.”