Also by Courtney Peppernell

Also by Courtney Peppernell

Pillow Thoughts

Pillow Thoughts II

Pillow Thoughts III

The Road Between

Keeping Long Island

Chasing Paper Cranes

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

There are never enough words to express how grateful I am to be able to share poetry books with the world. It is because of a team of people that all of this is possible, and I could not do what I do without them. James, for your guidance and being the voice of reason in my mind. Lindsay, for your support and being the second pair of eyes I need. Briana, for your encouragement and organizing just about everything in this chaotic life we lead. And Ryan, for your illustrations that always bring my visions so perfectly to life.

Special thank-you to the care, direction, and creativity of Andrews McMeel Publishing—especially, Kirsty, Fred, Patty, Elizabeth, Holly, and Diane. Your dedication to every project I bring to the table is forever appreciated.

To my wife, Rhian, I couldn’t complete any of these journeys without you. I love you with my whole heart. To my family—your unwavering support, encouragement, and belief in me through everything I set my mind to is something that truly drives me.

Finally, to my readers—I truly feel like I share a bond with you all, and it is this bond that I cherish with everything I have. Thank you for all your support, I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

All my love,

Courtney

Instagram: @courtneypeppernell

Twitter: @CourtPeppernell

Website: courtneypeppernell.net

Email: [email protected]

Before the light breaks and enters the dawn of a new day. You will have thoughts in your mind and feelings in your heart. You will have shadows of dreams that sometimes tear you apart. But the most important thing to remember is all the thoughts and feelings are yours. You may bend, but you will not break, and the light of a new day will ease all the ache. No matter the distance or what may come your way, from my heart to yours, I hope you stay.

Contents

In Your Heart

You will ache

You will dream

You will love

You will heal

You will rise

You will ache

There was never a right time to say goodbye. Not when you looked at me, with all that misery in your eyes. But I couldn’t keep up with all the lies, or the way you treated my heart. I couldn’t shake the feeling, every time we kissed, like I was just another name to add to your list.

I hold all this blame

about how badly

things between us ended

I dream so vividly

of our conversations

late at night

But despite all the reasons

I shouldn’t think of you

I still do

It was just bad timing

I told myself

But bad timing happened

time and time again

And after all the pain

maybe it wasn’t the timing