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𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐀
𝐋𝐎𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒
ELEANOR
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'If I did say yes to that,' I said, biting back the expletives that tickled my tongue, 'it would mean the gradual withering death of my soul, Zach.'
In a less traumatic way, I had left my youth behind the moment marriage had slinked itself to me. With that being said, ageing was a bonus that kept presenting and taking away. There would be gaining of wisdom, a weird kind of idleness and the slow downward spiral of my health. Then came parenthood, a gift that just kept giving. Immortality was the last thing on my conscious when I heard my little girl laugh for the first time, wondering what I wouldn't give to hear that once again.
What I didn't anticipate from ageing was the growth of attraction from the younger population. It was crazier than it sounded, the juveniles of the generation seemed to prefer the ones beyond the age-gap. There were categories involved: smarter, experienced and stable. But dear lord, was it the biggest ego boost.
Apparently, during my series of lectures, my student Zach had developed a crush on me. Despite the swindling rumours of my pregnancy and my recent engagement, he had bucked up the courage to corner me in my own office and confront me about his little infatuation. Zach looked good for his age with pretty brown eyes and blonde curls—it didn't take a genius to know at least half the female population in the class adored him. Sure, he had the guts to approach me regardless of my power to dock his grades.
As soon as the words left my lips, the smirk that rested on Zach's widened a fraction. I watched with a foreign gaze as he linked his hands forward over my desk trying to exert a dominant aura. His dark gaze held childish fantasy and seemingly enjoying the brushoff.
'I get it, professor.'
Zach emphasised the latter part as if making a point and I scoffed. He nodded with a sad smile which I simply wanted to slap off. I couldn't even raise my hand unless I wanted to lose my four-years of hard, advanced, good-pay job.
I sighed. 'What could you possibly get from that?'
'You're scared about your rep,' he said as if he had everything figured out. 'You're cute, the dean's pet and, a Brit to top it off. Trust me, we can keep it hush if you—'
'Let me stop you there,' I lifted a hand to silence him, letting him know I had enough with the faltering glare. 'Do you realize I am not only a wife but a mother, too? And frankly, I can report you to the board this second.'
