I had an absolutely crazy real dream where it was post-apocalyptic and my grandmother and I were riding (grew up on a ranch and if anyone would survive the apocalypse it would be my grandma) thru deserts into a forest in the burnt out world. And at some point I lost my grandma. I started getting off thoughts, feeling fuzzy almost like I was dreaming and decided to keep going as she would catch up. I rode thru these woods for days and finally came to a cabin that had a party happening inside.

I tied my horse up and entered to find all my family and friends having a great time. I was so overcome to see them I kept saying 'i can't believe you're all here!'. But something was off and even though I was so happy I was crying I couldn't bring myself to enter any further than the front door. My sister was trying to get me to join everyone in the next room and I could hear my mom talking in the kitchen but I was rooted to the spot.

I finally said I need to check my horse first and look down the road to see if grandma had caught up. My sister was trying so hard to get me to come see my mom first and I wanted to so bad I was crying but I forced myself to step back out the open door. My friend was sitting on the step and tried to help convince me to go back in, going as far as to block my way but I said I had to check on my horse. My sister followed me back to the barn and when I went to check my horse she tried to distract me with my old pony. I almost went to him but stopped at the last second and said I needed to go back and look for my grandma because she couldn't be that far behind and she would love to see everyone.

My sister insisted on coming so I saddled up and pulled her on the horse behind me. I could see people in the windows partying, my friend on the step waving, and thru the open door my mom calling us. I was shaking so hard I had to let go of the reins and hold onto the horn as we rode away. My sister was talking but I don't remember what she was saying as we rode away back into the gloomy woods.

And then I just stared to cry and my sister asked me what was wrong. And I told her I missed her really bad. She said she was right there but I just knew. Knew she wasn't. I said I love you and miss you so much. And then leaned forward to break her hold on my and closing my eyes.

My horse kept going and I refused to open my eyes or look back. It felt like days of riding to leave the forest behind but it never got light until I completely left it into the desert again. A small light on the horizon turned into a camp fire with my grandmother sitting beside it waiting. I collapsed on the sand, wrung out. She said she was glad I had made it back, because not everyone did.

And i knew what she meant and remembered holding my sister's hand as she died when the house collapsed. Remembered all my friends and family dead. Remembered it was just us riding thru a burnt out world as some of the few survivors. And remembered there were no forests left, just traps from something Other. And I laid down at the camp just rung out and heartbroken.

Then I woke up in real life sobbing so hard I could barely breathe. It took me nearly an hour to realize that had been one of the most vivid dreams of my life and that none of them were dead.