If anyone has any theories on this, I'd love to hear them.
About two years ago I was friends with someone whom I won't name, we were really close and had a lot in common. There was a connection that I can't put into words, one I've never had with anyone else. It was like we were just made to be friends, he wanted to be more and so did I but I was scared so I kept him as a friend. I did love him, I can admit that now but our connection was so strong it was scary. He died, I was beyond devastated.

Being raised a Christian I was taught not to believe in ghosts, or any type of life after death other than Heaven and Hell. I was sick in thinking I wouldn't see him again but had accepted it.

A few months after his death I had a dream about him.

I dreamt I was at a store or restaurant with my best friend and it began to flood, my other friends showed up and they didn't have room for me in their car. I was upset and told my best friend she should go. She went outside and then returned and said there was a brown truck outside and I should get in.

I went outside and saw the truck I climbed in and when I saw the driver it was my dead friend. The feeling upon seeing him, I still can't put into words. It was relief and the most amazing feeling I've ever had. I've never had anything in my life awake or asleep feel as real as that moment did.
He started driving out these old backroads and he was just talking to me as if it were nothing and he wasn't dead.

Eventually I said that I thought he was dead and he looked at me and he said "I am, but you need me and I'm here." I spent the rest of my dream just riding in that truck nestled against his side until near morning. At the end of my dream he pulled over and told me to get out of the truck I said no. He told me that I was dreaming and when I got out of the truck I would wake up but that he did love me and he was always close. I cried and begged him not to make me get out, I didn't even care if I was in a coma I wanted so badly to stay in that truck. He said I had to wake up, crying I got out of the truck and was instantly awake.

I've had vivid dreams before, and nightmares. this was not a nightmare I woke up feeling as if I actually had spoken with him. It was so real I could still feel the heat from his body beside mine, I have never had a dream that I completely was aware of everything and time passed almost normally and everything was so real.

I brushed it off and tried to go on until it happened again.

I dreamt I was drowning, my friends were all standing on a dock not far away at all. I kept begging for help but they were frozen, they just stared at nothing with no reaction. Just as I was about to go under he appeared on the end of the dock, he leaned down and said to me "Stop it, you can swim." I said no I can't and he said "Yes you can, you just don't remember how. Now, swim" I started to swim and hold my own head above water and he was gone.
I woke up cold and feeling exhausted like I'd actually been swimming.

Once again it was so real, more real than anything. I've had days shopping with my best friend that I wasn't sure was this real.

A few weeks later my dog died, I was beyond devastated. I sunk into a deep depression that my family and best friend couldn't get me out of. Everyday my best friend came up and sat on the couch with me, she'd let me pick movies and make me terrible food to eat. She was my rock, but I was unreachable.
Then I had another dream.

I was walking in a field with my dead dog and someone else, I pet my dog and hugged her. I told I loved her and missed her. Then the other person was revealed as my dead friend. I started to cry because I realized it had to be a dream. Near the end of the dream we were sitting on a bench watching my dog play and he said she wasn't hurting anymore. I told him I wasn't ready to let her go and he said "I wasn't ready to let go either, but she's with me now and she's going to be fine." Then he stood up and they both walked away and I woke up.

I woke up completely feeling better, the next day I went out of my house for the first time in days. I didn't cry myself to sleep anymore and I got myself a great puppy.

Everyone said it was my subconscious, but it wasn't I know it wasn't.

It was so real I could feel her fur under my hands and when he said she was safe I felt the truth in those words.

Is it really all nothing more than my own mind? or do you think there may truly be more than that.

I read too many books I know, but I can't help the feeling that maybe our connection was stronger than death. Maybe he really is watching and making contact the only way he can, and helping me through. Maybe, he has my dog somewhere and they're both okay and miss and love me like I do them.
I just need some thoughts, and I don't know where else to get them.