It was lopsided.

She erased it and tried again.

Still lopsided- but less so,

good enough.

She returned the paper-

the sixty percent D minus shining in red ink

next to the best graphite heart she could draw.

 

“Remember that love conquers the mightiest foes”

 

She gets to class late,

she enters the room with her shield still drawn

And some days she wonders.

She wonders why she tries,

wonders why she has to,

wonders why she’s even here

at all.

 

“Breathe deep, Darling.

Stand as tall as you can, Love”

 

Sleepless nights

Whispered words

From a mother with no daughter

to a daughter with no mother.

(The best reassurance

she can muster

alone).

 

“Think of next summer

spring,

winter,

and fall.

Remember your story’s not over

at all.”

 

And she smiles.

It’s fake- the best she can do.

But it’s good enough.

 

“Darling, you’re good enough.”

 

It’s lopsided but she can’t erase it.

It’ll fade and she’ll try again,

But for now she’ll display it

like the heart,

drawn in Sharpie,

on the back of her hand.

 

She hopes that it’s good enough

 

(“And it is.”)