Dream Journal

I was walking through these dim hallways with Joshua. It was awkward getting around. There were these big plants hanging from above with dark flower-like parts, but more primordial. We were looking at them, pulling on them.

Then I’m hanging out casually in this house/bar place with lots of people I know. It’s kind of like a college party but it’s part of a retail establishment. I’m lounging on the floor talking to some people. Someone hurries over and says that we’re being robbed. The thief is collecting the money and so I put my wallet out on the floor in front of me. There’s a lot of cash in there, and the guy takes some of it but leaves the rest. A few minutes later the robber comes back, looking for more valuables to take. Seems he’s only got $35 so far. There are these big silver decorative coins behind one of the chairs, and he scoops them up.

I’m heading downstairs. I go up to a friend that looks like Gene, a shop-owner in a clothing store, and I interrupt his conversation with two people, tell him, “We’re being robbed. He only has $35 and is looking for more”. The shop-owner is worried, and we start talking about where we’re going to get more money. We’re heading up the stairs and I say “Or we could call the police.” And we look at each other, realize it could turn ugly if we do, and safer for everyone to have him on his way with a bit more cash. But we’re considering it. As we reach the top of the spiral stairs, we see a police officer there. There are several more, fully armed, bunkered down at the front desk. The first officer I see says, “Put this on,” and he hands me a flak jacket. As I’m putting my arms through the arm holes, either he says or I imagine he’s saying “Take off your backpack. TAKE OFF YOUR BACKPACK!” which amuses me terribly because my arms are totally involved in putting on the jacket. Then he hands me a rifle/shotgun, and does the same with the shop owner.

This area is open to the outside on both sides, and I step out to survey the side of the building, gun held up. Someone comes out the side, arms up, waving that I’m not looking for him. Then more and more people spill out. They’re well-dressed, and it seems to be a massive wedding party. I’m scanning the people for the robber and finally I see him, and he’s got his arm around a well-dressed lady. The crowd slows down as they realize the situation, and there’s basically a line of people caught near the robber and his hostage about 30 yards away. The robber is wearing this light gray shirt. The police don’t realize what he looks like. He’s wearing ammo belts and has a big gun. He shouts out something threatening to us about the hostage. “The hell you do,” I thought. I could feel all the police officers around me freeze in fear, but I wasn’t about to let this situation go that way. I pulled the trigger. A shot rang out in the silence and the man was punched back off his feet. A direct hit in the chest. The police officers ran to him and I walked calmly out. About ten feet from him I came to a stop. One officer asked if I wanted to “push the button”. I assumed he meant at the electric chair or something, and I shook my head. I flipped my gun in the air and drove the point into the ground, then started walking calmly back towards the lounge bar, doing a little dance to myself. Nice job, self.

The best part of this dream was how totally calm and laser-focused I was throughout it all. I just did what was right, what I had to do to end it. There was no doubt, no hesitation. And when it was over, no worries. That was truly awesome. An extremely rare and enjoyable experience for someone with my level of empathy.