Alice lived through the ravages of WWII on the island of Malta in Europe. She saw her father wounded, her cousin die and their house demolished. Her dream began when as a young teenager at the end of the war, she listened to the American Forces Network broadcasting from Stuttgart, Germany and she envisioned marrying her childhood sweetheart, immigrating to America and living happily ever after. She soon married him, had three children and eventually arrived in California to fulfill her fantasy. Reality does not always live up to our expectations. Her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Surgery removed the tumor but the psychological scars remained and festered. He suffered a personality change, turning from a loving husband and father into a scared and vengeful man. In his psychosis he blamed the doctors for his condition and even accused her of conspiring with them. When his anger and despair escalated to guns and knives, the struggle to survive became her priority. Driven to the brink of suicide she finally sought outside help. This is a story of love lost but also of survival, of changing course, determination, renewal and never losing sight of the dream. | Chasing a Dream by Jo Marlin Alice Jo Marlin, Paperback | Indigo Chapters