I had a dream that I was young again, except I was at a 1950’s reform school in a monochromatic Victorian dress. Most of what I remember is that I had gone through my many classes for the day, along with me being a light prankster, whom the teachers would threaten to discipline quite regularly. I can’t remember much classes I was in, aside from home-ec and geography. The dream fast forwarded somewhat, with me not recalling much until the end of the day. At that time, before dismissal, the news broke over the PA that someone pranked the librarian and headmistress by putting poop in the school’s massive PC over the weekend—they threatened many lashes for whomever was caught—and then chaos erupted as the whole school was starting to become gassed with the cursed poop miasma. Our entire side of the school was plunged into anarchy, as the school filled with many teachers and students alike, along with a bunch of random politicians like FDR and Donald Trump who just walked around aimlessly. I was very confused and trying to figure things out to get back to class, until I then realized that I was framed for the prank, through a young lady next to me who spoke “hey, Alice… they want you now, best to get out of ‘ere with me.” To which two beefy men in suits then immediately grabbed her and began to drag her to the headmistress’ office for her 40 lashes. I then grew scared, thinking I’d get the same punishment, so I managed to escape in the chaos and run out the back door. I ran and ran to the front of the school, wherein I then ran into a bus. The bus driver saw me, muttering to himself as he checked it off on a clipboard. Only it wasn’t even my name he was speaking to himself, he said under his breath in a dim tone “Well… looks like we got here… Princess Cornelia Allister.” He then looked up more intensely at me, before saying “back of the bus, young lady,” in a commanding tone. Not wanting to out myself as the wanted prankster known as “Alice,” I did as I was told, and I sat in the back of the bus next to the goth girls. I was kind of intimidated, so I sat there with my hands in my lap and fidgeted with my hair, trying not to create any conflict. I did tune in to their conversation though, and it was rather enthralling to me. They were gossiping about another one of our classmates, who was apparently a lesbian and had beaten up the headmistress last week, along with being the most fearsome girl in the school. Speak of the devil, the bus doors then opened, and in came this lesbian in very powerful clothing. She wore the clothes of a dominatrix and villainess, along with a large amount of grey eyeliner and eyeshadow. I remember her outfit consisted of roughly spiked knee-high black leather boots, a rather thick leather corset with jagged red stripes, a pair of elbow-length spiked nylon gloves, and an intense scarlet overcoat to top it all off. She walked down the bus with mega antagonist energy, causing shivers throughout the students on board, until she then sat down next to me. The whole bus collectively exclaimed “ooooohhh! She’s sitting next to the princess!” To which gossip spread in hushed whispers, things like “do you think she’s gonna get beat,” “is she gonna violate her too,” “will we see the princess again after this,” “is she even gonna like her,” etc., as I sat in fear next to her. After what felt like minutes, the bus started to move, and she finally spoke to me. She asked “hey princess, how do you do,” in a very assertive voice, almost sounding like a command rather than a question. “G-Great, miss sapphic lady. And you?,” I nervously replied to her as she gave me an intense stare—her piercing red eyes boring into my very being—like she was a shark about to consume a flounder. She didn’t make much of a move though, or beat me up like the rest of the students thought. Instead, she merely grabbed my hand intensely, as she forced me to lie down on her lap. She commanded “stay still princess, this ride is gonna be a bit bumpy. So you’re mine…” as she held me in place assertively and began to stroke my hair with her black manicured fingers. I then became nervous at how the rest of the students would react, but they seemed strangely quiet now. I still worried to myself though, thinking “I’ll never live this down, will I? The other girls will never have me hear the end of this… great…” as I began to drift off in the lap of the apparent homosexual empress. I can’t really remember much else for a while. I only know that somewhere along the ride, the bus driver snapped and went psychotic, causing the bus to go faster and faster on the way to the ritzy neighborhood. Chaos and fear slowly began to be seeded in the bus, to which the lesbian then froze up and stopped holding me. I then went to get up and run out of the bus, but the lesbian was too quick, as she grabbed me by the throat and pinned me to the nearby window. “Don’t leave, princess. You’ll die if you do…” she ordered intensely, as I looked around outside to see the bus begin to wobble and shake. The bus then crashed, hitting a street light head on with a deafening gong. This knocked the bus off balance, and it began to shake and wobble. The bus driver didn’t seem to react though, and he just kept going faster and faster, only doing crazier drifts and counter-steering as he seemingly drove us home in an even greater rush. The bus eventually made it to 96 miles an hour, and three of the preppy girls up front decided to confront the bus driver themselves. They stood up, all clad in their matching red English school uniforms, as they pulled knives from their purses. All of them tried to stab the driver, but it didn’t seem to work, and the middle-aged husk of a man just kept going even through bleeding and multiple stab wounds. If anything, it made the bus more chaotic, as it careened towards an overpass while only two wheels were on the ground. The lesbian then grew an expression of fear, as she said with a tinge of fear “if we die, you’re so gonna be my wife in heaven.” “Sure,” I replied to her in a shaky tone, trying to keep my mind together as the bus still refused to stop. The impact then grew seconds away, and I began to look out the window in fear. I then heard a massive metal crunch, and the bus began to spin and fly through the overpass tunnel. I remember being flung around in a few impacts, causing me to go into shock and my vision to blur. Even the anti-heroine was on the floor next to me, struggling herself. The last thing I remember was my vision going white as the ruined bus slid along the asphalt, my last thought being “I’m not gonna make it home today… neither are them, I think…” as I began to pass out from the lack of adrenaline. I closed my eyes to see a dim grayish void, with the ocasional spat of blurry red mixed throughout the plane of gray. I was like this for god knows how long, until suddenly, I awoke in my bed, feeling very tired and exhausted despite getting a reasonable amount of sleep. I awoke feeling a bit sad and lethargic today, but also intrigued at the odd nature of the dream, and the seemingly evil lesbian whom had chosen me as their companioness within the dream. I feel very contemplative this morning, yet also pensive. I’m physically okay though, aside from my hormones, which feel a little odd today for some reason. FIN.
Dreams are fascinating windows into our subconscious, reflecting our emotions, desires, fears, and unresolved issues. Your dream is rich in detail and complex themes that unravel many layers of meaning. Let’s explore the various elements in your dream and what they might signify.
The setting of a 1950’s reform school coupled with your younger self suggests a longing for innocence or a simpler time in your life. This could point to feelings of nostalgia or a desire to return to a past where life was less complicated. The monochromatic Victorian dress may symbolize both a rigid adherence to past norms and a yearning to break free from traditional or societal expectations.
Your role as a prankster in this dream indicates a playful and rebellious side of your personality, suggesting that you may be feeling constrained in your current life or by societal norms. The constant threat of punishment from teachers hints at a fear of authority or the repercussions of stepping outside the lines. Prankster energy can also signify a desire to challenge the status quo, both in yourself and in your environment.
The chaos that erupts in the school symbolizes anxiety about judgment and consequences. Being framed for the prank may reflect feelings of being misunderstood or unfairly judged in waking life. The panic among the students and the impending punishment reflect fears of being caught in a situation beyond your control. The men's presence and the threat of punishment may signify internalized anxieties regarding conformity, reputation, and how you're viewed by peers.
The appearance of the lesbian with dominatrix qualities evokes themes of power dynamics, sexuality, and identity. Her assertive nature and your reaction to her presence could represent your own exploration of confidence versus vulnerability, especially in relationships. The contrast between fear and admiration that you feel suggests a grappling with authority, dominance, and possibly your own desires or identity regarding attraction and power.
Buses often symbolize the journey of life or collective experiences. The chaotic bus ride, especially led by a seemingly unhinged driver, reflects a feeling of being a passenger in your life, unable to steer your own direction. The urgency and danger as the bus speeds towards disaster can indicate personal fears of being out of control or overwhelmed by external pressures.
Crash scenarios in dreams often signify a culmination of unresolved anxieties or life changes. The bus crashing symbolizes a potential breakdown, leading you to reconsider your role in your own life journey. The metaphor of flying into a chaotic state illustrates your current fears and experiences of feeling lost or overwhelmed.
Waking up lethargic and contemplative suggests that the dream has left an emotional residue on you. The feelings of sadness could indicate that you are processing something significant in your life—possibly related to identity, acceptance, or fear of judgment. The odd hormonal feelings may further suggest that you are going through changes, be they emotional or physical, that push you to confront your identity and place in the world.
Conclusion: Your dream paints a vivid and complex narrative that intertwines nostalgia, rebellion, power dynamics, identity exploration, and feelings of chaos. Consider reflecting on these themes in your waking life, particularly regarding your desires for freedom, authenticity, and your current fears. Allow these contemplations to guide you in navigating your emotional landscape and encourage acceptance of your true self. Your subconscious is urging you to embrace who you are without fear, especially as it relates to how you perceive yourself in your environment.