I walked into my classroom full of high school students that were eager to read fantastic books in my American Literature class. Or, at least, I was going to make them eager to read.

It was my first day teaching this class. I had absolutely no idea what these students would be like. I tried to remember when I was back in high school.

What was I like when I was back in high school? 

That thought entered my mind as I walked in front of the group of high school students. Some of the students started staring, but I didn't mind. I expected some kids to stare. For the first time in my life, I didn't care if people stared. These were just school kids, after all.

Now I remember what I was like in high school. I was still learning to love myself, and I was learning how to fall in love with someone else. High school was a confusing and awkward  period in my life. I was just like these kids once. Maybe I could show them that I'm still not that different from them.

"Hello, everyone!" 

Almost all of the kids went silent immediately, expect for two boys in the back of the classroom whispering to each other. I sighed. I knew there was going to be kids like this. 

I walked to the back of the classroom, and the slammed the book I was reading- Cat's Eye by Margot Atwood- down on one of the boy's desk. 

"When I speak, you stop talking. Do I make myself clear?," I asked, staring at him straight into his curious brown eyes. 

I could hear the boy behind him saying to the boy, "Oh, you're in trouble!"

His eyes widened, like he watching a scary movie and a scary monster just jumped out from behind a wall. I knew very well that he was starring into my Trach, not my eyes. 

"Excuse me, the last time I checked my eyes were up here," I said, pointing at my face. "Not on my neck. I said.....do...I...make....myself....clear?" 

I am such a badass right now. 

"Y-yes," the boy sputtered out, barely able to look into my eyes instead of at my Trach. 

"Good," I said, smiling. I walked back to the front of the classroom. 

"Now, I know you're probably all thinking to yourselves," I began. "Who is this chick?" 

Some students laughed. 

"And what is thing she has on her neck? Well, that's a fantastic question. And no, in case you were wondering, I'm not some type of alien or something." 

More students laughed, and I chuckled a little myself. 

"I got this when I was a baby. I had a terrible breathing problem, but this thing on my neck helped me get through it," I said. The room went dead silent. "You see, the doctors inserted this tube in my neck when I was two months old to help me breathe better. It's really called a Tracheostomy, but everyone just calls it a Trach. My whole life I've struggled with loving myself. I remember in 8th grade I'd see the perfect girls with perfect necks in TV shows and movies and I'd think to myself, 'I wanna be like them.'  I'm sure some of you guys have done this yourselves. You compare yourself to other sometimes, right? Well, I don't do that anymore, and you shouldn't do it either. The moment I stopped comparing myself to other people, my life changed completely. I felt alive and happy. I no longer was insecure about my Trach. I loved myself.

"And you all should love yourselves too. You are amazing. You are worthy. I was in high school once, and I know in high school sometimes it feels as if everything in your life is going wrong and sometimes you feel insecure. Trust me, I remember those days. I was exactly  like you in high school, just with this Trach in my neck. I'm still exactly like you, just older. We aren't all that different from each other, but if you've got something that makes you feel different...you should be proud of it."

One student started clapping, and then a whole bunch of other kids started clapping and shouting, "Go, Mrs. Parker! Go, Mrs. Parker!" It was pretty fantastic, and I was pretty pleased with myself. 

"So, I ask all of you, what makes you different?" 

The brown eyed boy raised his hand. "I'm really curious. I'm more curious than a lot of people I know." Then, he turned around and looked at his friend. His friend started laughing, making him chuckle. I chuckled a little myself too. 

This is the first day, and I already love my job. 

----------------------------

When I walked into my house, I saw Issac sitting on the living room couch, drawing something. The song Marry You by Bruno Mars was playing on his phone. I gasped, putting my hands to my mouth. 

Was he doing what I think he was doing?

"Hey, babe," I said, trying to sound casual. "What're you doing?"

Issac got up and grinned. A huge, wide grin. I've never seen a person grin that big in my entire life. He was holding a piece of paper on in his hands that said:

I remember when I first met you on the bus in high school. I told you were beautiful, and you smiled. I remember thinking that I loved your smile. I still love your smile. I love everything about you. Your smile, your personality, and your Trach. You are one badass of a person, Jessica Parker. You may be wondering why I wrote this down on paper. Well, I was too worried that I would mess up what I was saying when I talked, so....instead I'll write this question: Will you marry me? 

"Haha no," I joked. 

He frowned. 

"I'm just kidding, you idiot! Of course I'll marry you! You're the love of my life, for goodness sake!"

He grinned his big, wide goofy grin, and he broke out into laughter. I laughed along with him, and I walked closer to him. I walked so close to him that his face was inches away from mine, and the breathes that came out of our mouths were mixing together.

"I love you, in case you haven't noticed already," he whispered. 

I grinned. "I love you, too," I whispered back, and then we kissed. 

While we were kissing, Issac took the engagement ring out of the his back pocket, and he slid it onto my finger.    

I wrapped my arms around the curve of the his neck, and he caressed my face with his soft hands. 

I wondered to myself: Could my life get any better than this? 

THE END