Words. It is truly an amazing thing how a simple set of words strung together and placed on a page can evoke within us a profound sense of being seen. Of being understood. Of connection. Connection to another person whose story we don’t know, but with whom we can relate to on an existential level…because of the parts of themself they poured so openly and honestly onto those pages. No masks. No walls. No apologies. No shame. Just raw, unfiltered emotion. Heartache, love, pain, grief, longing, fear, hope. 

I have always been a poetry lover for this reason. And that is exactly what Erin Zak did with this collection. She poured her heart and soul into these pages. Whether the poem was two pages or two lines, you could feel the depth of meaning behind the words. And if, like me, you sometimes live more in the darkness than in the light, you will feel seen and understood reading her poetry. You will know that you aren’t alone in that darkness. And maybe even feel empowered to open yourself up as well. To be vulnerable. To give voice to all those emotions the world so often tries to silence. 

Thank you, Erin, for the ARC! But most of all - thank you for your words, for your vulnerability, for letting your heart bleed onto every single page.