This was an ordinary day. When I went to bed, I was not upset or even thinking about Steve at the moment. Sometime during my sleep, I became completely aware. I was in another place, or rather, my SOUL was in another place. I was with Steve and we were floating in a red ambience. The red ambience is very difficult to describe. There was no sense of direction or gravity. It was similar to a cloudy haze, but totally otherworldly. Steve and I held each other, both so glad to have this time together. There was no talking at all, everything was mentally communicated. We were both aware that this was a special gift and that I couldn't stay there, we knew that when my body started to wake up, my soul had to go back. SO this was a very bittersweet meeting. I could feel him and see him and it was as real as anything. I clung to him. He let me now that he loved me and he wanted me to be happy and strong, and that this was the way things were meant to be. As I began to wake up, it ended abruptly. I sat up in bed fully awake and cried, so thankful for my short time with Steve but sad I had to wake up, and I couldn't stay there with him. But this answered my questions, was Steve okay, where was he, was he happy? I was able to go on and be strong for my kids, knowing there is a purpose for everything and nothing is senseless. I never for a moment thought this was just a dream even though nothing like this had ever happened to me or anyone I know before.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?  Yes

The colors and strangeness of the place and how it felt I was actually there.

Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?           

No

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?          Yes

            Did the voice or sound seem to originate externally or outside of you, inside you, or did you not hear a voice or sound, but had a sense of knowing what was communicated?  all communication was internal, yet very clear.

            If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?           the same

            Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           no

            Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?   no

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?            Yes

we embraced each other, as we would have if we were lying in bed together. It was very tender and loving.

            Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar?   familiar

            Was anything communicated by the touch?  it was communicated that this was a gift, not something that would happen again, and I cherished every moment of it.

            Is there any possibility what you felt was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?  no, I was alone, there were no animals or other people in the room.

Did you see the deceased?         No

he looked good, at his healthiest, the same age as when he died. His entire body was present, but because we were holding each other I was most aware of his head, chest, and arms.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            he himself was solid, but the "red ambience" we were in made the whole scene slightly hazy.

            How much of the deceased did you see?       all

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?       same age as death

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            very healthy, he had always been thin but he looked more filled out and his skin looked healthier, his hair looked well kept.

            Is there any possibility what you saw was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           no

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?      No

How long did the experience last?        there was no way to measure time in this place. It could have been seconds, minutes, or hours. All I can say is that I wanted it to be longer.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         the beginning was gradual, the end was sudden.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?           Yes

It was a fierce love, it was like this was our moment to say goodbye, our last chance to embrace, and we both but every ounce of our soul into it.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  no

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?           Experience was definitely real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:           This was completely unlike any dream. It was too vivid, and the lack or direction and gravity was something I had never experienced before. Also, I was fully aware during the experience, that my body was asleep.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No

What did you feel (while awake) immediately prior to your experience?            Relaxed          

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           it was very intense, very bittersweet. It seemed to last forever, yet be very fast at the same time. There really was no measurement of time.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?           Yes

It helped me to be able to move on. I knew that in Steve's new life he had a greater understanding of all things and he would be happy, not mad, about me going on with my life.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      Seeing him again was amazing. but I had to miss him all over again when it ended.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes                 Describe:      I have grown spiritually, I am much more confident in who I am and what I want, and I live my life for love.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     my religious beliefs have changed. I absolutely believe in creation, but I also think we are all wrong in how we believe religion is to be viewed or lived by. I think there is definitely life after death, but I think it is beyond what any of us can imagine. I don't think God wants us to live our lives in a nutshell, worried that everything fun is a sin.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?            Yes     There is definately an afterlife, but also, I am not certain of the existence of a heaven or hell. Steve was not a Christian, had no particular beliefs, yet I know he lives on and he is at peace.

Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?        No

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I was extremely grateful to be able to touch him and communicate with him one last time, but I was sad also because I was left with a feeling of finality, I knew he really was gone from this world and I had to let go and move on.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           Yes

A few other people who were very close to Steve had extremely meaningful and vivid dreams around the same time frame.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes

in this place we were in there was no concept of time. minutes, days, hours, could all be the same. I couldn't tell you if I was with him for a few moments or the entire night while my body slept.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Yes

I knew that my soul had left my body, I knew that for a human, this was a very rare and special gift. I knew that Steve's death was no mere accident, that his time had come and that there was no big mistake that he had died.

Did you become aware of future events?       No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         Uncertain

I had one other ADC while dreaming after this, months later, I hadn't told anyone about it and a couple days later, a good friend of mine and Steve called me to tell me she has an almost identical "dream".

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

I am absolutely certain that my soul was with Steve, and we were in a spiritual place. During my experience I was completely aware that I was there with Steve, and that my body was still asleep but I was not in it. Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?   No

Did you see a light?           Uncertain

the entire scene and a luminous glow to it, but only slightly so. There was no light source.

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?            No

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I am not sure if people believe me or if they think it was a dream.;

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?            Uncertain

I think I might have said something about it on facebook or a blog after it first happened, but just informally, not with a researcher.

 Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience?       no

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?            No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No 

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?           Yes 

I believe this particular event was an out of body experience. I have had no others, but I have frequently throughout my life had those moments when you wake up feeling as if you just fell and hit the bed, as well as a few times I experienced sleep paralysis

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes