[Orphan]

I had a lovely dream involving mum and dad last night. It was such a calm and peaceful dream. Mum and dad were sat either side of me in an enormous park with lots of benches. On each bench there were three people and I somehow knew that this was the place where all the teenagers who had been left behind came to see their dead parents.

Down the centre of the park was a path with a few parents (singles and pairs) walking one way and children walking the other. Mum and dad promised me that we could meet here again and again until I was ready to let go.

I started telling them about all the problems with nan and granddad but then suddenly I was walking down the path and I knew I was waking up. I looked behind me and I could see mum and dad a long way away but I just knew it was them.

[Orphan]

I'm not very religious but I wonder if heaven is like this park? You get to meet up with people in a quiet, sunny place and just have a chat?

[Orphan]

It would have been my dad's 54th birthday today. I don't like to mention it while I'm staying here with my aunt in case she has forgotten because that would upset her - but I do hope Dad's brother has remembered. Last year I was still living in the family home and I had a candle burning all day so that dad would know I was thinking of him. The year before I was too scared to do anything because things had got so bad with nan and granddad.

Dad used to get spoiled at this time of year with Fathers Day and his birthday so close together!

[SuperheroSam]

I'm not religous, nor superstitious, but whenever I have a pleasant dream about a lost loved one I take it as a sign that they're okay, and enjoying the next life.

[Mutedmirth]

That sounded like a wonderful dream and I agree with SuperheroSam.

You could always do something else? Maybe go to a park and just enjoy it? or do something else as a memorial if you're too worried to light a candle.

[Orphan]

In the end I just went to the cemetery, cleaned the stone and sat for a while on a bench quite close to their grave. I didn't see another person the whole time I was there.

[Mrx123]

good dream

[Anonymous]

I think you can take this as a sign that your parents are alive, in you. Just like the Lion King... heh.

After all, isn't chatting to you, and comforting you, and being there for you exactly what your parents would do if they could? In a way, they are doing this, through your mind, through the influence they had on you when they were alive.

I'm so sorry that they died, Orphan.

[Orphan]

Yes I do think that mum and dad are alive inside me but I wish they were alive outside me as well!

[FrigidSymphony]

There are few things duller than a woman recounting a dream she's had.

[NuckingFut]

(Original post by FrigidSymphony)
There are few things duller than a woman recounting a dream she's had.

Thats not a nice thing to say. Did you actually read what the OP posted?

[Ray of Light]

That's sweet!

[Orphan]

(Original post by FrigidSymphony)
There are few things duller than a woman recounting a dream she's had.

In the circumstances what a scummy thing to say!

[jamesvancollier]

••

[PoGo HoPz]

That was a lovely read. I'm sorry to hear about your parents, Orphan!

[Orphan]

I managed to make myself quite sad today. I was by the seaside and I must have been asleep for a few minutes because I woke up with a jolt and when I sat up I saw two people about 50m away looking into rock pools. Just for a minute I forgot that mum and dad were dead and so I thought it was them because that is just the sort of thing they were always doing.

It was beep beep awful when I suddenly realised that the 2 people were just strangers.

[sweeter than a cherry pie]

(Original post by Orphan)
I managed to make myself quite sad today. I was by the seaside and I must have been asleep for a few minutes because I woke up with a jolt and when I sat up I saw two people about 50m away looking into rock pools. Just for a minute I forgot that mum and dad were dead and so I thought it was them because that is just the sort of thing they were always doing.

It was beep beep awful when I suddenly realised that the 2 people were just strangers.

I'm sorry, that must have been dreadful for you. Do you have a good support network to help you through this?

[Anonymous]

OP, you make me sooooo grateful that I still have a mum and dad. I guess I should be more grateful and loving towards my family in the future because they will not be there one day as I grow older and older.

[Orphan]

(Original post by sweeter than a cherry pie)
I'm sorry, that must have been dreadful for you. Do you have a good support network to help you through this?

It happened 2.5 years ago (year 12 at school). I went to live with GParents so that I wouldn't have to change schools but it didn't work out so I lived on my own in the family home for all of year 13. Now I'm at uni I live with my mum's sister and her family during the holidays.

[Orphan]

Sometimes, like in the last 24 hours, I really don't know how much I have "got over" mum and dad dying. It feels like a dark cloud is inside my head and what with nan and granddad being even nastier than normal life isn't much fun.