Hello all those who read this newspaper.

My name is Dawn and this came about when mum and dad were arguing what on earth they were going to call me when I was born.

It was dad who finally had this brainwave. He insisted that since I was born at the crack of dawn, my name should be Dawn and Dawn it was. When I was growing up, life was practically perfect in every way. Mum and Dad bought me everything I wanted and in return I loved and respected them with all my being.

Now that happiness we shared seems so very far away. What is worse is knowing we could never be a happy family again. What utter despair knowing you can never go back to what you were before, like a deformed person hoping against hope that what crippled him would somehow disappear and make him normal again.

Since mum and dad got divorced, life seems to have no meaning for me. No wonder so many people were against divorce. It does nothing but destroy and destruct. Some of those in favour of divorce go to mass and receive Holy Communion yet they are in favour of terminating what God has joined together. Such hypocrisy!

Things were fine at home you know; it was fun and laughter all the way. Then dad went on a business trip and mum started yelling at him that he was a womaniser. It seems that dad did not go to a business trip after all! I really cried when I found out the truth, first because he hurt mum and second because I heard it said that a man must love his wife in order for him to love his children.

Dad, I would have willingly died for you. Of course dad and mum are not living together now. Mum kept our old house and every memory that goes with it while dad got himself a flat. I keep hearing things like ‘divorce was needed in Malta’ and it breaks my heart. Don’t they know the trauma we children have to go through because of divorce?

If divorce were not around, I guess mum and dad would have had a go at working things out. Yesterday mum was muttering about forgiveness and all that. I guess she could have allowed him this one lapse if that dreaded divorce were not around.

My life now is like a yoyo, with mum a few days, and with dad a few others. It’s boring, lifeless and loveless. We used to have so much fun together.

Valerie Borg

Valletta