I wish life were written in pencil
because if it was
it would be so effortless,
to erase and remove
the mistakes
of the recent
and the long forgotten past.

It would be so easy
to forget
those awkward conversations
and all those unwanted sensations.

No trace would be left
of those painful recollections
and myriad rejections.

Things could be smeared and smudged
to the point where they could no longer be judged.

But this is why life is written in pen.
things can be crossed out
and disregarded.
but they will always be there,
permanent in our pasts.
a way of recalling who we once were
but remembering why we changed.

We must never forget how far we have come
because if we always erased our errors
we might forget
our progress is something to be proud of.