describes my journey through the agonizing fires of my soul, which gave me a deeper meaning of what grief really is-Love. Step by step as I walked through the fires and with each baby step forward, and sometimes backwards, I learned so much about myself, and grief, and self-love. I am not the same person who lost her husband that fateful day. How could I be? I lost so much that day, yet I also gained parts of me that would never have been born, were they not forged in the raw Fires of Love.

In the days, weeks, months, and even years since my Jimmy's sudden passing, I have learned a lot about myself. I have learned a lot about pain. It is an incredible teacher. Also love is the only thing that really matters. Love is a double-edged sword. To truly love is to risk it all. I am a firm believer in love. Yes, with love can come great sorrow. There is no question about it, as my story will tell. I can tell you with all my soul, love is what saved me.

My poems in this book are raw, gritty, and real. I do not sugarcoat my words, My poems are not "nice," but they are honest. My poetry is the means by which I can put my heart on paper, and share with you emotions that are rarely captured for all to see, and understand. My poetry is a way for the teachers of my soul to speak. The poems bubble out of me and always have lessons to teach me.

After sharing my poems with my therapist, she asked if it was ok if she shared them with her other clients who she felt could relate. I said of course, and the feedback she gave me was overwhelming. It was clear that my poems held healing and understanding not just for me but for others as well. I wrote this book with hope that my story and poems provide optimism for all who read it. When we grieve, we feel so alone, as if we are burning from the inside out from pain and deep sadness. Our lives are turned upside down, and will never be the same again. But as my soul burned, I knew I would forever burn in agony, if I didn't keep walking through the fire. The only way out is going through it, but it is the hardest journey I ever took.