The Girl Who Wrote in Pencil

She wrote in pencil
so she wouldn't mess up.
But it was
ever
good
enough.
She wrote on crisp white paper
with straight blue lines.
Perfect.
Because perfect's all she ever wanted to be.
Perfect for her family,
Perfect for her friends,
Perfect to herself.
She couldn't mess this up.
No, she wouldn't mess this up.
Not this time,
Not ever.
And so
she wrote
in pencil.