You were texting your future husband, someone you still hadn’t met in real life. Just words on a screen, yet they managed to unsettle you in the softest way.

You asked him shyly, “What’s your age?”

His reply came almost instantly, as if he’d been waiting for it: “Curious little bride… aren’t you?”

Your cheeks warmed at that single phrase. Before you could type anything back, another message appeared:

“My age? I’m old enough to be your father.”

You froze for a moment, a small shiver running through you. You typed, “That much older?”

He sent a short laugh, and you could almost hear it even though you’d never heard his voice before: “Don’t worry… age is just experience. And I promise—when we finally meet, you won’t be thinking about numbers anymore.”