?Dear Mark (12-year-old)!
It is May 11, 1992. As I write this letter to tell you that tomorrow, your life will change forever.
Nothing and no one can prepare you for the pain and loss you are going through, but I want you to know that amidst all the pain, you will experience wonderful moments in your life.
On May 12, you will wake up and dress down and have breakfast downstairs. Dad will finish his coffee, take the bag and say goodbye to the door. It will be the last time you see her.
At 3am, the teacher will ask you to go home urgently. When you arrive you will see police cars surrounded by the house and you will hear your sister's cry from the room.
At 3:20, Mom will send you upstairs to the next room to tell you that Dad is dead. The room will be filled with the most unimaginable pain and loss. You'll hear Mom say she doesn't know what to do, how to live without dad.
A day later, your uncle will tell you that Daddy was killed by another man. That night, you will wake up in the middle of the night, sit on your knees and cry with sobriety. You will ask yourself over and over why this happened to you.
Now, you'll have to play football alone, without dad. You will even see television without it. All the fun you did together is over but I know you will find the power to keep going.
Mom, Vanessa and Clare will be fine. I want you to know that you will excel in things you think are impossible. You will meet people who will inspire and support you. You will sing on a stage with a band, write a children's book, win awards, read to children in schools, and talk publicly on TV about your pain.
You will even use this pain you now have to write a story about children who are going through the same loss or similar to yours. You will use your loss to help others.
Pain will never leave you, but you will learn to grow with it, build life by accepting loss. You will learn to "cope" with your loss. Many people will tell you that time will diminish it, but you will just learn how to cope with the difficult days.
In 2009 you will meet a kind, beautiful and very loving lady. It will teach you how to talk about your feelings. In 2013 she will become your wife. You will have 2 wonderful children that you will love more than anything in the world.
You will always miss dad, but I hope through this letter you will realize that you will be fine.
Learn to love, to live, and to make the most of every moment of this journey, which we call life.
Mark, 39 years old. "
* Note: This letter was written by children's author Mark Lemon in The Independent.
