Dear Abby: I’m a 16-year-old girl who accidentally left my diary on the counter and my mother read it. When she told me, I was disappointed and hurt. To me, a diary is a place I can escape to and feel comfortable just being me. She now knows I struggle with depression and have done things I’m not proud of. I was angry and expected an apology because it was a violation of my privacy.

She claims she had the right to read it because I left it on the counter, and if I didn’t want her to see it, I shouldn’t have left it there. Regardless of where my diary was, I don’t feel she had the right to go through it because it’s not hers.

I told her I want an apology and I am willing to rebuild that trust. My mom said there is no reason to rebuild it or to apologize, and she did nothing wrong. Am I wrong for wanting an apology and a better explanation for why she did it?

– DISAPPOINTED DAUGHTER

Lazlo says:

Hey, yer only 16. That means your parents own you. They can do whatever they want to make your life as shitty as possible.

But you need to wisen up. Keep writing in that diary, just change the subject. I suggest writing about how you’re mom’s friends think she’s getting fat, your father’s car has another woman’s hair all over the back seat and don’t forget to get really graphic about “the voices in your head”.