Rainbow Paw
Carry Their Love With You

I Dreamed About My Dog Last Night. Then I Woke Up.

I dreamed my dog was alive again after he died. For a few seconds after waking, I forgot he was gone—and then the grief came back all over again.

Journal · Dreams and grief

I Dreamed About My Dog Last Night. Then I Woke Up.

For a few seconds after waking, I forgot he was gone—and then the grief came back all over again.

A quiet bedroom at dawn with rumpled linen bedding and a folded woven blanket near the window

I dreamed about him last night.

Nothing dramatic happened.

He was just thereWalking around like he always didI said his name. He looked at me.
For a little while, my brain gave him back to me.
Then I woke up.

1. For a few seconds, I was completely happy

I didn’t remember that he had died.

I only remembered the feeling of having him nearby.

Then I looked toward his usual place.

And reality returned all at once.

It felt like losing him again.

2. Part of me didn’t want to get out of bed

I wanted to close my eyes and find the dream again.

Five more minutesOne more lookAnything
But I couldn’t make myself go back.

3. I don’t know what the dream meant

Maybe my mind is still trying to understand his absence.

Maybe it was simply memory finding its way into sleep.

Some people believe dreams like this are visits.

I don’t know.

I don’t think I need to decide.

What matters to me is that for a few minutes,

I remembered what it felt like when being with him was still normal.

And yes,

waking up hurt.

But somewhere underneath that hurt,

I’m glad I got to see him again.

Even if it was only in a dream.