To see something as false which one accepted as true, natural, or human is one of the most important happenings in a life. It can destroy dreams of goodness, of any value that matters, leaving one no longer capable of either enthusiasm or fear. Enjoyment of life might seem dependent on delusion, with disillusionment a foretaste of death. But we are essentially individuals and our situations endless in variety. Our reactions will therefore also vary widely and will often be vital in determining an individual's future.

The stories in this volume concern love and family relationships, business and professional identities, and issues of morality and criminal behavior. Individuals must confront sudden awareness that also includes or threatens devastating loss. The response of each grows from his or her character, for the better or for something less.

Personal disillusionment needn't include signs of weakness in the human spirit such as self-pity or self-loathing. Rather, it can be educational in helping to see the world and man as they are, without the myths attached to love and other sentiments. Caution should be used in any praising or repudiating since the reality we live in is, to a great extent, one of chaos.