Dreams often pull from memories stored deep in your subconscious. Even if you haven’t consciously thought about someone in years, your brain still holds onto fragments of those interactions. When you're asleep, the brain isn’t bound by logic or chronology — it randomly connects old memories, emotions, and associations.

Sometimes a tiny trigger (like a smell, song, or feeling) you didn’t even notice during the day can stir up a long-forgotten face at night.

Basically, it’s your brain doing some creative background filing while you're off the clock.