Someone I Used to Know, Darth Vader, and a Red Bra

Some dreams disappear the moment you open your eyes.

Others follow you into the morning.

I woke up in the middle of the night after one that felt so real I could still feel the warmth of it.

Someone who’s no longer part of my life found his way into my dream. He joined me somewhere, slipped easily into the bed beside me, as though no time had passed.

There was something wonderfully comforting about having him there. A friend and I were trying to keep him hidden, although from whom and why seemed perfectly reasonable only in the logic of dreams.

And then came the moment that made me roll my eyes and laugh.

He was coming up the stairs.

I rounded the corner and saw him.

I was wearing a red bra that opened in the front, and apparently my subconscious decided I deserved my own Fast Times at Ridgemont High moment.

I walked toward him.

No hesitation. No uncertainty.

Just that delicious awareness of being seen by someone you know wants to see you.

I reached for the clasp and opened it.

His reaction made me very happy. 😉

And he loved the moment so much, he made me repeat it so he could film it on his phone.

Dream logic is ridiculous.

Sometimes dream logic is also rather wonderful.

Then I woke up.

It was 4:44 a.m., and Gold Dust Woman was running through my head, especially one particular line:

“Shatter your illusions of love.”

That felt a little pointed.

Eventually, I drifted back to sleep, and my subconscious decided we needed a complete change of genre.

This time, I found myself in Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World with good friends.

One of them was immediately welcomed into the Rebel Alliance, became buddies with Han Solo, and charmed the cast members so completely that I overheard them afterward saying, “That guy was great!”

I loved that for him.

My own Star Wars experience was somewhat less magical.

Darth Vader showed up.

Darth Vader, whom I have been afraid of since I was six and saw Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope at Mann’s Chinese Theatre.

And he killed me.

Seriously?

After all these years, THAT is how my childhood fear gets resolved?

I’m Princess Leia. Headstrong, smart, independent, resilient.

WTF, subconscious?

I mean, I did stand up to him (after first trying to hide). I stood my ground, but I had no weapon, much like Alderaan.

At least my husband remembered my rain jacket when it inevitably started raining.

Because Florida.

So apparently, while I slept, someone I once knew very well found his way back to me for one warm, delicious moment.

A good friend joined the Rebel Alliance.

Someone who loves me made sure I stayed dry.

And I was murdered by Darth Vader.

Dreams are strange things.

They bring back people we miss. They resurrect old fears. They give us moments that could never happen and, for a little while, make them feel completely real.

Until morning comes.

I’m not sure who is currently in charge of programming my dreams, but I have some notes. 😄

Although…

I might keep the first one. 😉😈😄