The Road Between

by Courtney Peppernell

Your mind is a story that deserves to be read Your body is a universe that demands respect Your soul is a song that deserves to be heard

in the moments I thought I could not go on, I thought of you. And how your love kept me going, more than I ever think you will know.

You whisper my name and it sounds like dreams coming true. We float on a bed that looks like a stormy night and my love for you has been the only thing I’ve done right.

More than anything I want you to know that I cherish every moment, every kiss, and every tiptoe across the room. I love you when the clouds rain, I love you when the night falls, I love you when the flowers bloom, even if in the early morning my eyes are closed.

Sometimes I feel like all my atoms exist just to love you

I told her life is not meant to be easy, and things won’t always go our way, but our purpose still remains, even after our hardest day. And I wanted to remind her that she was strong and brave and true, so I told her if anyone can achieve greatness, it’s you.

You don’t get to choose when she needs you.

When you feel you have a purpose in someone’s life.

Then you are reminded of all the small details,

I had curled into her, pressed my face into the curve of her neck, and she smelled the way she always does, of sweetness and flowers and all the beautiful things in life. I felt her pulse against my lips as they rested there, connected to each beat as it found its way through her body.

It’s not about calling her beautiful. It’s how you say it. When you call her beautiful, you are pulling every word she is into one: smart, funny, shy, confident, curvy, tall, small, inspiring, strong, kind, and every other thing you love about her. You cannot call her beautiful unless you say it in a way that makes her feel like she can do anything. You cannot call her beautiful unless you say it like it’s the last thing you will ever say.

So I hope you find someone who plays with your hair when you’re sad, who makes you laugh until your sides hurt, someone who doesn’t play games and isn’t afraid to say I love you even if it’s more than once a day.

My heart belongs to a woman faithful and strong and bold her hand is the only one I hold

But the sun does not apologize for the days it hides behind the clouds. You are allowed to sleep in and settle under the covers. You are allowed to have moments when life feels like it’s standing still. In these moments, rest, recharge, try not to compare yourself to others.

Lately I’ve been thinking about following the lighthouse home, coming back to the parts of me I lost, when I wasn’t so afraid and my heart was soft.

The unknown is feared the most Some dread it so much it makes their edges rough But there is beauty in not knowing and adventure To dive into yourself and discover the part you have yet to meet Is an adventure worth living

Writing about you isn’t always easy. Sometimes I feel guilty, because there aren’t enough words to describe how much I love you.

If our bed were a canvas Then our colors Would bleed into each other

you showed me that I was beautiful and that all my thoughts mattered You reminded me that all my parts could heal even if some had shattered So I wanted to thank you For bringing out the best in me and loving the parts no one else can see