Sleep, but Never Rest

I’ve had other vivid dreams lately, but I’ll write about last night’s because it is fresh.

I remember driving down a Columbus neighborhood street and eventually, on my right, in front of me, there were two guys and a girl chatting at an outdoor table that was outside of a restaurant. There was a lit candle on the table. I saw the guy that sat toward the street fall toward the table strangely and got up and tried to grab something before slipping again. Whatever he grabbed onto ended up being loose, so it flew out of his hand and some gasoline-looking liquid spread all over their table.

The three people ran from the table and I put my van in reverse and started driving backward just as the table caught fire and exploded.

I kept driving backward and some kind of major earthquake hit and the brick and concrete buildings I passed started to crumble and collapse in front of me onto the road.

I eventually stopped and to my left, I remember the wall of some building was half collapsed. I saw metal rods sticking out and bent. The remaining exterior had graffiti, but not good graffiti, and the largest was an unrecognizable shape drawn with a single line of blue spray paint. Behind the wall, I remember people recovering from taking cover in what looked like a bookstore.

Then I replayed it again to remember it in detail when I woke up. Before I did, however, “Charlie” showed up and it was like I was showing him what I dreamed.

Note: “Charlie” has shown up randomly in 2 other dreams in the last 6 months or so and he is always “observing” the dream I’m having. It’s a weird feeling, but I was going to use it in a story plot or two so I kept trying to find ways to have another “Charlie” dream. I’m surprised that it worked this time.

I also remember taking on another job as an O’Charley’s (or some place with green aprons) waitress. I wasn’t feeling well, but I went to the restaurant to meet a friend, but I was afraid they’d make me work. I was right. They made me get dressed and started my training.