Do Dreams Warn Us?

“I had another significant dream in my early twenties that began to unravel his cold love for me. In this dream, my father was holding an exaggeratedly large syringe. With Dad being a diabetic, I was used to seeing syringes, but not of this size. On the side, in very large writing, were the words: “LOVE SERUM.”

Dad took my forearm. He brought the syringe close, with the needle’s plunger up and ready to deliver.

I awoke in dread and confusion. The dream was with me that next morning and I tried to explore its meaning. Clearly this contrived love between my father and I was not right. This was not the natural love a child holds for a parent. His gripping control enveloped every bond we shared.

That same day, I walked to my mailbox and opened its door to discover a letter inside. It was from my father. After my marriage, he and I had been somewhat estranged. This letter was the first Dad had ever written to me. I opened it up and found cash tucked between the pages. I put the money aside and started to read. It was a love letter. His words beckoned my return to him, to our love. He reminded me how much I meant to him, how life without me wouldn’t be as good. Then, he wrote, “I’ve done nothing to harm you.” The background music underlying his words of love ended, abruptly. The warning of the dream I had the very night before shouted at me not to listen to his words. The dream tried to persuade me, even before the arrival of the letter, that this love serum my father built me for, would ultimately take my life if I accepted it.”

From A Prisoner by No Crime of My Own. Want more?