Page 46 of Sweet Madness

I’m so screwed.

“Oh, Poppy! You’ll have the best time at Shaw’s magical ranch! You’ll see and you’ll have many friends! Peppermint, Geraldine, and Peanut will be your partners in crime. I’m sure of it!” She keeps talking to the goat as if the small animal understands every word, all the way back to the ranch.

I don’t end up with the clingy dog, the ugly cat, or the annoying birds. No. Instead, I leave the animal shelter with a damn goat.

A goat who already seems as dangerous, affectionate, and sweet as her new owner.

Space Note

“Did you know that it rains diamonds on Saturn? Saturn is as wondrous as you.” - S

Chapter

Thirteen

LOVE CURSE

Ella

“He’s even better than fictional men.” — E

Ilean back in the comfortable leather chair, staring at the glow of my iPad screen as I wait patiently for my astronomy class to begin. I can’t get enough of this class. When I first started college, I didn’t feel giddy or excited about any of the subjects I signed up for. It felt like duty, with no joy in it.

Now, it’s different. Everything is different. Every time I sit down to listen to the professor talk for two hours straight about the cosmos and everything that exists outside of Earth, I feel a lot of excitement and passion. This career path doesn’t feel like a duty. It feels like… me.

This is it. This is the start of the grand adventure of rediscovering the me I put away so long ago to please everyone else. That ended the moment I stepped foot on this ranch. Now I’m here, doing things I’ve always dreamed of but was too afraid to chase after.

Paying close attention, I listen to the professor’s voice streaming through my headphones, absorbing the wonders of the cosmos. Periodically, I pause to underline key points with my soft pink highlighter, meticulously marking the most intriguing details and adding notes of my own to help me study better later.

As the professor speaks, the visuals of his class appear on the screen, and the chat box hums with questions from other students. I pose my own question to join in, which the professor promptly answers, clearing up my doubts.

I don’t miss classes on campus. At times, being around so many people overwhelms me—not because of genuine connections, but because of the shallow niceties aimed at gaining something from me.

I’d much rather take my classes online and not worry about who is around me because they genuinely like me or because they want to use me.

“Miss Kenton,” the professor’s voice interrupts my thoughts, snapping me back to the present as I stare at the screen with a puzzled look.

Shoot. I quickly unmute the audio and blurt out, “I’m so sorry. What was the question?”

Professor Kelly doesn’t look all that amused. “I asked if you could tell me which Polish-born astronomer proposed that the planets orbit the sun and was later proved right.”

I don’t have to think long. I know the answer. “That would be Copernicus.”

There is a moment of silence after my answer. Professor Kelly seems surprised, as if she hadn’t expected me to know it. She nods once before continuing with the lecture. “Very good, Miss Kenton.”

Leaning back in the chair, I smile and then gaze out the window at the sunny sky dotted with fluffy clouds, watching tiny birds fluttering around. I don’t fault the professor for possibly thinking I’m just a privileged nepotism case; she might have encountered a few of those during her teaching career. I don’t feel the need to prove myself to her. I simply strive to do my best for myself, for my dreams. I’m only grateful she’s not one of those professors who are indifferent to their students and are there for the heavy paycheck. Judging by the passionate way she speaks about the topics with so much enthusiasm, it’s clear to me that she genuinely enjoys her job just as much as I enjoy astronomy.

The blissful feeling in my chest as I look out the window while listening to the lecture reassures me that despite the scary and challenging situation we’re in, and despite these not being the ideal circumstances, I’m on the right path. Maybe a really, really bad situation has a chance to become something epic. Something… beautiful.

My thoughts drift to memories of the ranch and Shaw. I remember the moment we agreed to a truce while he spoiled me with my favorite food, flowers, and gifts just to apologize. It was a sweet gesture from a man I believe hasn’t had a lot of kindness in his life. The thought makes me sad but reinforces my motivation to bring happiness to his life. Happiness and many smiles. We all deserve it. Most of all Shaw.

As the days turn into a week, Shawn and I find a rhythm of coexistence that works for us. Shaw became my silent guardian, always watchful for the looming threat my family still can’t quite define.

But happiness here is not just about him.

I find myself loving the rhythms of ranch life too. I started to appreciate the simplicity of getting up at the crack of dawn to help Shaw with the horses and the tulip field, and I look forward to the quiet and solace of starlit evenings. It is obvious that Shaw and I are worlds apart, but I can’t deny the few things we have in common. We both love being away from the world, far from the crowd and noise.

Here, at the ranch, it feels like we’re both in our own little world, and nothing from the outside can touch me since he is here to protect me from outside forces. What I also can’t deny is the connection we’ve formed during my stay here. It’s evident in the shared glances over breakfast or the rare smile exchanged during dinner; each interaction reveals layers of Shaw’s character I hadn’t anticipated but am starting to become addicted to.