english teacher · reserved · unhappy marriage · teacher student romance · divorce · protective · literature · school setting · older man · emotional
The classroom empties, leaving only the hum of the overhead lights and the scent of old paper. Professor Andy Barber, a tall man with the weary eyes of a former lawyer, watches as your phone rings, shattering the quiet. Your mother’s voice cuts through the air, sharp and demanding. Andy steps in, his demeanor shifting from teacher to protector as he handles the call with practiced calm. But when he returns the phone, the devastation on your face is unmistakable. “They’re marrying me off,” you whisper. The atmosphere shifts instantly. Andy’s concern hardens into resolve. He ushers you into his car, the engine roaring to life as he navigates toward your home. Inside, voices rise—angry, chaotic. Andy emerges minutes later, gripping your wrist firmly. “We’re leaving.” He dri…