Dream: Pay It Forward

Date: 12/9/2023

Dreamt I was a young man in a bad car accident just a month or two before my college admission. Was pulled out of the wreckage by a young man with deep red hair and beautiful amber eyes who I later learned was named Charley Dip Davis (or something close.) I was in and out of it as he waited with me for the ambulance. I kept mumbling "wrist" to him till he saw the bracelet with my penicillin allergy and name on it. He relayed it to the ambulance people and followed behind us to the hospital. I woke up from intensive care a few days later and had a card from him wishing me well but we never spoke again. Despite my desire to find him and thank him. Time passed and I started my college life. I was staying in the apartment complex just outside campus. I lived on the second floor next to an older couple. One day the older woman of the couple was bringing home groceries and seemed to be struggling. I offered to help her and she allowed me to assist. From then on, I had a "deal" with her and her husband. I'd help them with groceries or other "tedious" chores and they'd tell me stories or teach me what they know. Apparently the me in this world had lost their parents young and didn't get taught things like how to take care of a car, how to maintain a house, so on and so forth. They even helped me understand taxes and so on. In exchange i just had to help them out where I could. It was nice. The following year of college started. A couple months in and I'd stopped hearing from the older couple. I sent texts but nothing. The silence went on for a couple days before I got a knock on my apartment door. It was a man in a suit with a briefcase. "Arlo Silva?" The man asked me. I raised a brow, "Yes. Can i help you sir?" He smiled weakly, "Do you mind if I come in? It's about your neighbors." "Are they ok?" I ask immediately. The man looks around the hall then at me. "Can i please come in?" I nod and let him in. We sit on the couch and he explains that the Andersons, my neighbors, passed away recently in their sleep. Some kind of cancer. He couldn't give me all the details. Just that I apparently inherited their house (which i didn't even know they had), their car, and a huge sum of money because I was the only person in their will. I had a sister who was also a skilled lawyer. She practically raised me. I told him that I'd need to schedule a time where he meets me with her so she could help me with the papers. He understood, left me his card, and left. I called my sister, Gabrielle (i called her Gabby), and i gave her the rundown of what happened. A week later we got everything sorted with the man in the suit and I now had a house, a car, and a decent bit of money. Gabby would bring her daughter, my 7 year old niece Hayden, over on weekends so I could watch her as Gabby went on dates with her husband. They didn't really get to have that time together during the week. As it got closer to halloween I ended up working with some of my college friends, and little Hayden, on plans to turn my new house into a grand haunted house. As Gabby loved all things scary, Hayden had grown up around it all. In fact, Gabby and I used to turn her house into a haunted house during halloween before Hayden was born. "Uncle... can I greet your guests? I'd make a great dolly." Hayden said excitedly at one of these meetings. "Oooo we could use some kid safe makeup and make her look so prop like that her movements would scare even adults!" Beth, my former dorm mate and now roomie in this house, suggested. "Yes! I wanna be a dolly!" Hayden was demanding now. We all laughed, excited by her enthusiasm. I pat her head, "If Gabby agrees then I promise you can. I'll talk to her but you'll have to stay with me the whole time ok?" "Mama can help us! She can be my toymaker!" Hayden added. "Only if she agrees. No forcing her." I told her firmly but smiled. I remembered being excited like that when i helped Gabby with her haunted houses. The years went by. Our haunted house was a hit each year and Hayden was often the favorite scare actor. She was a doll the first year. A zombie the second. This year she was aiming to be a little werewolf. Gabby would always help us with planning and would bring Hayden for the beginning hours, taking her home once she would start getting tired.  It was two weeks before we would begin doing the weekend haunted house. I was out grabbing coffee and breakfast with Gabby and Beth. Hayden was in school. "So are you still looking for him?" Gabby asked. I nodded, "Is that weird?" "He saved your life. I don't find it weird." Beth said before sipping on her coffee. "Though he might find it weird if you just appear before him." Gabby added, "it's been almost four years now. It might be time to move on." I chewed my lower lip, "Easy for you to say. You didn't see him. The desperation in his eyes when he kept telling me to stay awake. To live. It's haunting. I just want him to know that I'm ok. I want to know that the incident didn't destroy him." Gabby went silent but put her hand on mine. Beth set her coffee down, "I'll ask my fiance if he can help. He works down at the station as part of the tech side of things. Maybe he can help find this guy." After that we changed topics and started talking about how we'd make Hayden's costume for this year. Gabby eventually left to pick up Hayden. Beth and I also headed off in Beth's car. "I may actually already know where he is. Just promise me that you won't ask how." Beth told me after we started driving. My eyes widened, "I promise. Will you help me meet him?" Beth smirked, "Already on it. You'll notice the way to campus is the other direction." I looked back behind us and she was right.  Then i woke up.

AI generated interpretation This dream seems to revolve around themes of gratitude, personal growth, and the interconnectedness of relationships. The car accident at the beginning of the dream represents a significant, potentially life-altering event. It symbolizes a moment of vulnerability and helplessness. The presence of Charley Dip Davis, who rescues you and stays by your side through the ordeal, suggests the embodiment of compassion and support during difficult times. Charley symbolizes the importance of connections with others and the impact that one person's kindness can have on another's life. The subsequent storyline of living in the apartment complex and helping the older couple reflects a reciprocal relationship characterized by exchange and mentorship. This represents a stage of personal growth and learning, where you are able to gain practical skills and knowledge from them in exchange for your assistance. It highlights the idea that giving and receiving support from others is essential in personal development. The news of the older couple's passing and your unexpected inheritance signifies a turning point in the dream. This event not only presents you with material possessions but also represents the passing of wisdom and knowledge from one generation to the next. The arrival of the man in the suit and the involvement of your sister as a lawyer indicates the significance of legal and practical matters in dealing with this new responsibility. The introduction of your niece Hayden suggests the passing on of traditions and values to the next generation. The collaboration with your college friends to create a haunted house represents creative expression, teamwork, and the continuation of your family's love for Halloween. It also symbolizes the desire to create a space for fun, scares, and togetherness. The theme of searching for the young man who saved your life resurfaces later in the dream, demonstrating the lingering impact of this connection. This highlights the importance of closure and the desire to express gratitude towards those who have played significant roles in our lives. The conversation with your sister and friend about this search reflects the conflicting emotions of wanting to find closure while also recognizing the need to move forward and let go. Overall, this dream suggests a deep appreciation for the support and guidance received from others, as well as the desire to pay it forward by offering help and support to others in need. It emphasizes the transformative power of relationships, the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next, and the importance of gratitude and closure in finding meaning in our interactions with others.