I was in grade 10, back in 2015. That was when I first met her, during a particularly strange and lonely period of my schooling. Most of the kids had started staying home, preparing for exams by taking private tuitions. But not me. My dad, in his strict and somewhat obsessive way, insisted that I go to school every day. Looking back, it was probably his undiagnosed OCD at play, making sure I had perfect attendance even though there was little point.
Being the only student who still showed up, I wasn't in the classroom much. The coordinator didn't see the point in assigning a teacher to just one student, so I spent my days sitting alone in the library. That's where Karen entered the picture.
Karen was a substitute English teacher, new to the school, and unlike any other teacher I'd known. She was younger, prettier, and had a presence that set her apart from the other staff. Though she was a bit thick, there was something refreshing about her. While the other teachers ignored me, glued to their phones or busy with other tasks, Karen actually paid attention to me. She'd flip through papers and ask me to write essays, trying to engage me even when there was no one else to teach. We spent a few periods together each day, just the two of us in that quiet library.
When the term ended and the holidays came, I assumed I'd never see her again. But when we returned to school for grade 11, I was surprised to find that Karen had been assigned as our official English teacher.
By then, I was no longer just the lone student sitting in a library. Karen remembered me from the previous year, and that connection carried over. Even though I wasn't the best student, I was pretty good at English, which was my second language, and Karen seemed to recognize that. Whenever she taught, I found myself unusually focused. She gave me more attention than the other students, engaging me in ways that made me feel seen.
I couldn't help but feel drawn to her. As the weeks went by, our interactions grew, and we developed a kind of friendship. She wasn't like the other teachers who came and went without making an impression. Karen was different. With her around, I began to care less about my other subjects, focusing more on English.
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Age Is Just a Number
Teen Fiction"Age is Just a Number" is a suspenseful tale about a high school student who forms an unusual bond with his new English teacher, Karen. Karen's mysterious aura sets her apart from the other teachers, and Miles is instantly intrigued. As they become...
