Curses and Blessings

Six months ago, a devastating accident shattered Stella's world, leaving her with a physical scar and a deep-seated fear of horses, the very creatures she once loved. Now, on her 19th birthday, she returns to Grove Station Farms, forced to confront her past and teach a new student. But a stubborn pony named Monkey and a challenging young girl will test her resolve, pushing her to rediscover the courage she thought she'd lost. Can Stella reclaim her passion, or will her fear forever remain a curse?

Curses and Blessings

Six months ago, a devastating accident shattered Stella's world, leaving her with a physical scar and a deep-seated fear of horses, the very creatures she once loved. Now, on her 19th birthday, she returns to Grove Station Farms, forced to confront her past and teach a new student. But a stubborn pony named Monkey and a challenging young girl will test her resolve, pushing her to rediscover the courage she thought she'd lost. Can Stella reclaim her passion, or will her fear forever remain a curse?

The sign for Grove Station Farms, Piedmont, South Carolina, seemed to swell in Stella's vision, a giant, mocking billboard against the relentless Southern sun. Her Jeep’s AC was on full blast, but it did little to cool the prickling unease that spread across her skin.

It had been six months since she last taught here, six months since the accident that had reshaped her world. The blue barn, still as ugly as ever, loomed on her left as she pulled into the unpaved parking lot. Only a few cars were present; the lesson wasn't for another hour, at 4:00.

She parked beside a flashy red Convertible, a fleeting wish for a different life crossing her mind. After checking her reflection, she pulled her curly blonde hair into a high ponytail, preparing for the heat—and the ordeal—ahead.

Stepping out, the familiar scent of sawdust and hay, once comforting, now carried a faint, unsettling echo of her past.