Recounting a dream of meeting a long-lost relative

Prompt: Recount a dream where you meet a long-lost relative

Sample Essay: Recounting a Dream of Reuniting with a Long-lost Relative

I. Outline for Recounting a Dream of Reuniting with a Long-lost Relative (Standard)

1. Introduction

Introduce the dream:
- When did the dream take place?
- Whom did you encounter in the dream?

2. Body

* General Introduction about Your Distant Relative:
- Where is your relative located?
- What is the reason for the distance?

* Describing Your Relative in the Dream:
- Appearance
- Attire
- Facial expressions, gestures
- Any noticeable changes compared to the last real encounter?

* Your Interaction with the Relative in the Dream:
- What did you and your relative talk about?
- How did you feel about the conversation/meeting?
- Which situation woke you up? Emotions upon waking up

3. Conclusion

Emotions about the encounter: Joyful, happy, nostalgic, or sorrowful...

II. Sample Essay: Recounting a Dream of Reuniting with a Long-lost Relative

1. Recounting a Dream of Reuniting with a Long-lost Relative, Sample 1:

As the night deepens, a serene and unusually quiet atmosphere envelops everything. Turning to me, you ask a question, a seemingly innocent inquiry yet laden with a hint of reproach: 'Why don't you visit the family more often, or have you forgotten everyone? This time, you must stay for an extended period to bond with the youngsters,' you add playfully. Your words resonate softly as you advise, 'Always remember to stay close to your loved ones.' With those words, you quietly step towards the door. Fearing the distance, I hastily follow, but the image of you gradually fades. Occasionally, you turn and wave goodbye. I cry out to you, and upon waking, I realize it was just a dream—a dream I can never forget.

I will forever cherish and value this precious dream. Though not real, every word and gesture from you in the dream serves as motivation for me to strive in life.

2. Recount a dream where you reunite with a loved one, version 2:

My grandfather holds a special place in my heart. Throughout my childhood, he was the most cherished figure, feeding me, lulling me to sleep, teaching me to draw, and playing games. However, he is no longer with me. He left quietly one Sunday afternoon. Despite his departure, I hold onto the hope of a miracle, a chance for him to return. In my dream, that wish comes true—I am reunited with him in a world of my own making.

That day, exhausted from studying, I went to bed early. As I closed my eyes, I found myself immersed in a deep sleep. Suddenly, before me appeared the beloved garden of my grandfather's house. It was indeed that garden. In one corner, the sweet cherry tree, from which he used to pick fruit for me. The leaves were still lush green, and tiny, green cherries adorned the branches. In the middle stood the cherished tangerine tree, his favorite. Then there were the mother-and-child pomelo trees, a patch of wild mugwort growing close to the ground, and the willow tree extending its long branches towards the mango tree, still blossoming, just like in the days of my childhood spent in the countryside with my grandfather. Memories with him flooded my mind as I suddenly felt an overwhelming longing for him. Unable to contain myself, I called out loudly - a heartfelt call, shouting: Grandpa! Suddenly, he slowly appeared. In disbelief, I rubbed my eyes. And he spoke: Your grandfather's puppy is right here. Indeed, it was his familiar and affectionate voice. I ran quickly to him. At that moment, I smiled and cried at the same time. I threw myself into his arms, crying loudly. He gently stroked my head: Don't cry, my dear, don't cry; I'm here. I lifted my face to look at him. His hair was still silver-white, just like in the old days. I remembered when I used to play with his hair as a child, innocently asking: Why is your hair white?

Although he has departed, I finally understood that before leaving, he left me two gifts. The gift of knowledge - even though he's gone, I still feel his spirit is with me. And the other gift is the small garden he meticulously cared for while alive. I always believe that even though he's no longer here, his spirit will still be present right beside me, with the garden full of blooming flowers and fruits that he planted.

3.  Recount a dream of meeting a loved one, version 3:

Have you ever believed that after a dream, the long-desired things will become reality? There was a time when I truly believed in that, always cherishing the magical moment that the dream brought to me.

That evening was a weekend twilight, the sky adorned with stars and a gentle breeze. I lay on the daydreaming floor, counting the stars. Suddenly, the entire space lit up. In the radiant glow, my grandfather walked towards me, his face beaming with kindness. Overwhelmed, I marveled at the serene, rosy countenance and the silver mane of my beloved grandfather. He stood tall, clad in a simple military uniform, his gaze filled with affection! Sitting beside him, holding his hand, I relished the joy, reminiscent of my childhood days. I wanted to ask how he had been all these days, where he was. Did he remember the family? So many questions, yet I didn't know where to begin.

He shared with me the enchanting fairy tales he used to tell in the past. His voice remained the same: gentle, deep, and warm. He inquired about my studies, examining my books. His brows furrowed slightly when he saw my haphazard notes. Instead of scolding, he kindly advised me to strive for more diligent study. He gazed at me for a long time with a tolerant and encouraging look. He also mentioned the aspirations he left unfulfilled, urging me to turn them into reality. Those aspirations were recorded in this very paper. The only path to achieve them is through education...

He led me along a village path adorned with fragrant flowers and exotic grass. The two of us walked and talked joyfully. He said we were heading to the spring flower market; he wanted to bring the entire spring to my home. He selected a branch of peach blossom, a gnarled and moss-covered branch but with exquisite flowers: a delicate pink color, soft, smooth, and tender as if shedding tears before the spring breeze. The blossoms were dense, and the petals sparkled like stars. I skipped alongside him, feeling as elated as a child. He held the peach blossom branch. Perhaps, the essence of spring was nestled in those tender blossoms... Around us, my grandfather and I, along with buyers and sellers, the lively and bustling atmosphere. Everyone was preparing to welcome spring!

I clung to my grandfather's hand, chatting animatedly about the upcoming spring days when suddenly, I heard my mother's loud call. I jolted awake, realizing I was still lying on the floor. Regretfully, I recognized it was all just a dream...

Dreams are fleeting moments of wonder that fulfill my longing. I regret yet learn much from that dream. Most importantly, I met my grandfather, who instilled in me faith and the determination to pursue my own dreams.

4. Narrative about a dream meeting a long-lost relative, version 4:

'Another new year has arrived, Mom!' I looked up at the night sky, thinking of my beloved mother. It's been three years since she went abroad. I reminisced about the times when she took me to the flower market and shopping around these days before the Lunar New Year. Lost in contemplation, I drifted into sleep.

'Hong!' I heard a distant voice calling. I turned around and found myself standing in the park where my mother used to bring me to play when I was a child. Approaching me from a distance was a figure that felt both familiar and unfamiliar. 'Could it be Mom?' I silently wondered. I ran closer to get a clearer view. Oh! It was indeed my mother. My heart filled with immense joy and happiness. Overwhelmed with emotion, I shouted loudly, 'Mom, Mom!' then rushed to embrace her. My mother opened her arms wide to hug me. Tearfully, she said, 'Hong! My dear child!' I cried tears of joy in the moment of reuniting with my beloved mother, who had been away for so long. Now, I had the chance to look closely at my mother. Her hair had a few silver strands, and the wrinkles from the hardships in the foreign land were evident around her eyes. Yet, one thing about my mother remained unchanged - her smile. Her gentle and peaceful smile brought me a sense of tranquility and happiness. While I was engrossed in admiring my gentle mother who had been away for so many days, her voice rang out, making me slightly startle:

-Mom, let's sit on that familiar stone bench and have a heart-to-heart. It's been so long since we had a conversation, just you and me.

I nodded:
-Yes, mom!

Mom and I headed to the usual stone benches. She gently stroked my hair and asked:
-How's our family doing these days, dear?

I promptly replied:
-Everyone is well, mom! Grandpa occasionally has joint pain. The aunts and uncles are all working. They always mention you, mom. Everyone misses you a lot.

Mom smiled gently:
-Yes! So, how's your schooling going now? Are you still holding onto the dream of becoming a journalist?

I promptly responded:
- My studies this year are more demanding and exhausting than the previous ones. As it's my final year, I not only focus on regular classes but also need to study extra to reinforce my knowledge. To turn the dream of being a journalist into reality, I consistently submit articles to newspapers, Mom. I won't let you and everyone down.

Mom's words infused more confidence in me:
- Yes! I believe in you. Work hard in your studies, my dear. Share everything, both joys and sorrows, with me.

Listening to Mom's warm words brought me closer to her. I know that in a distant land, Mom always remembers me, following every step and caring about my ups and downs. Everything I achieve today is thanks to Mom's encouragement. The love Mom imparted has given me the strength to overcome life's challenges. A mother's love is truly sacred. How long I've missed the presence of my dear mother, and now being with her brings immense happiness! I silently thought, 'Mom! Now we're together again. Please don't leave me, Mom...' Then, I sank into thoughts, into the overflowing joy and elation in my heart. Gradually, everything seemed to fade away.

'Hey there! Wake up, why are you dozing off like that? The new year is just around the corner. Want to wake up and watch the fireworks with your family?' I rubbed my eyes, seeing the clock almost ticking to 12. I looked around in confusion, only to realize it was just a dream. Looking up at the night sky, the dazzling fireworks lit up, another new year is here. I silently whispered to the night sky, to the spring fairy, hoping she would convey my message to my mom: 'Mom! I miss you so much. Please come back soon, mom!'.

5. Narrate a dream where you meet a long-lost relative, prompt 5:

Torrential rain, adding to the misery of the already ruined and desolate remains of a collapsed structure, still crushing a few unfortunate fates. Helpless, several rescuers reluctantly give up in the face of the weakening struggles of an unlucky soul entangled, gasping for breath amidst the steel and rubble.

Far beyond the barricade, behind the crowded chaos on the other side of the road, there sits a young woman, huddled on the ground, beside a faded black notebook and a fabric bag. Her wet cheeks, whether from tears, sweat, or rain, only know that they are streaming down on her grief-stricken and pale face. The rain persists since the afternoon until now, the sky is completely dark. On this mournful land, only a few people are on the verge of collapse, physically and mentally tortured. She still sits there, her cold, desolate expression permeated with immense worry. Occasionally nodding off, struggling to stay awake until the early morning, the sun has not fully awakened yet. Suddenly, a man in a protective helmet, disheveled clothes, rushes over, standing in front of her hesitantly, unable to look straight. He slaps his face towards the chaotic scene and blurts out: 'Stay calm, Nâm... Don't be sad, Nâm!... Uncle Tín said he saw the body... confirmed the name... it's him, Nâm, no one else... he's really gone, Nâm!' Then silence... then tears... both drowning in a world of intense and agonizing grief, all caused by a person they loved who has just left them forever.

'Sigh...' the heart-wrenching sob of my mom, for a month now, that horrific painting hasn't released its grip on her mind. As evening descends, the image of dad becomes more vivid, mom imagines him desperately struggling, trying to feel that pain to cry out. Then she sneaks over to dad's altar, sitting beside his ashes and sighs:

-This life, it's tough for us, isn't it? Well, the poor have the woes of the poor, the continuous woes of the poor.' - then a gentle sob, the voice choked up each time - 'Sigh... you left me and our child, you went away. If you can live happily with grandparents, leave your hardships here, I'll bear them all... I'll bear everything... alone...'

Mom makes me want to cry, my mind is chaotic, and as the chaos breeds more in my head, the more chaotic it becomes. The more chaotic, unable to contain those thoughts anymore, I feel...

This house is suffocating,
This house is dreary, truly chilling.
I wish to leave here quickly,
Leave behind a mother with many tears and constant lamenting.
I want to escape from here fast,
Escape that pessimism as if it would chase me and turn me into a suffering person like my mother.
Running away from here is what I desire.
Run to a place where it's just me.
I also want to...

Suddenly, everything around me is pitch black, as if my eyes are tightly closed, but in reality, they are wide open. Complete silence surrounds me, and I wonder where my mom is. Why hasn't she come to light the candles? Where's the mattress? If I can't reach the mattress, how can I find the hand fan to cool down and sleep? I'm convinced it's a power outage, and following my routine, I feel my way along the wall. When I hit the chair, I turn left, and when I hit the mattress, I bend down to locate the fan. That's my mission. Mom's task is to light the candles, and... dad's task is to suddenly shout loudly and try to scare both mom and me. I get scared, that's dad's joy during a power outage.

But no, it's not like that. There's no movement around me, no murmurs, and the hands suddenly gripping my shoulders are not accompanied by the flickering light of mom's candles.

I keep walking, searching on both sides, but there's no chair hitting my shins as usual. The eerie silence terrifies me, and involuntarily, I recall Ngọc Ngạn's ghost story I watched the other day. I shudder, feeling my whole body wants to fall apart. Suddenly, something grabs my leg, something cold, pulling me to the ground:

-He...lp...! Save me, mom! Help! Save me! Mom, help save me...!

I desperately try to run, heart pounding like a drum. It's horrifying, utterly terrifying. I shut my eyes, convincing myself it's just a dream. Suddenly, a faint light pierces through this darkness. Relief and fear intertwine. However, the light reveals the most dreadful image I've ever seen in my life. The grasp on my leg, something chilling, is a hand—bruised, bloodied, with the embroidered 'N' on the shirt, my mom's signature when she sewed for my dad. It's insane, crazier than anything, my dad is gone, and the ghastly figure lying here is ghastly, gruesome. I'm terrified, wishing for my mom or even Ù, the guy who's never scared of anything, to be here and ease my fear.

But the reality is, I'm alone. I admit I wished to be alone, but being alone in a world like this was never something I thought of. The hand loosens, dropping to the ground. Is this my dad? Twelve years with him, sometimes loving, sometimes angry, a month without him, and this is the surreal moment of reunion. Confirming it's my dad, my heart becomes heavy. Joy of reunion crushes all other emotions. I look at my dad, now silent. He doesn't speak, doesn't crack a joke. The light intensifies, revealing rusted steel, probably from days of incessant rain. On his right foot, damp and cold concrete, his foot crushed, blood seeping into the ground. I wonder, how many others have suffered like my dad? Suddenly, it darkens again. One, two, three drops fall. They fall fast, slow, heavy, light, creating a melancholic, sad melody. They coax my tears, falling onto my dad's face—already gaunt and pale. They say the bond between father and daughter is sacred and miraculous. I can hear my dad breathe, see his body move. Is he coming back to life? Doubt clouds my mind. It's like a fairy tale, usually reserved for movies. Why would it happen to a simple person like me? Everything blurs, dreamlike, vague, and faded. Then, I only see my dad sitting up, and I remember every word he says:

-Dad loves you, my daughter. Dad loves your mom. Tell her, tell her I always hear her complaining to me. Pass the words from this 'old king' to the 'queen'—'Xì tốp'—complain away, my dear! Dad's tired of hearing it! - and with that, my dad chuckles.

It's pure happiness to hear that laughter and familiar words. My dad is so lovable. Fleetingly, I think, 'No one in this world has a dad like mine.' Suddenly, his tone lowers:

-Daughter, from now on, your life might see a bit of change, you know? Dad won't be able to help mom anymore, so she'll struggle, she'll be tired, and she might get angry! Have you seen her angry? Oh, dad's scared. Ha ha. Now, dear, dad is truly sad because he'll miss a lot from now on. But there's one thing dad wants you to remember: 'Loss leads to recovery, and recovery must bring something better; that's how the loss becomes meaningful.' Things will get back to normal, and the key is whether we improve from here. We must try not to face more losses. From now on, you have to comfort mom, encourage her, help her with tasks she used to handle for dad. Remember dad's words, okay?

It's easy for me to respond, 'Yes, dad!'

And as fast as time, like a truck falling from a two-story house, I return to my beloved home. Beyond the wall, mom's voice blends with creaking sounds: 'Why didn't you turn on the light, dear?' 'Oh! Mom!' - I stumble, rushing to hug her tightly. Feeling a serene and happy soul. I say to mom:

-Mom, I love you so much! Are you tired, mom? Shall I fetch you some water?

Then I said to dad, 'I love you so much, dad! Don't worry, Dad, your daughter will make Mom very happy. I will be more obedient than any child in the world. I'm really sad, Dad, because from now on, I won't be normal anymore. I will become an orphan, a poor orphan. But, Dad, your daughter will try her best, even though it's very difficult. 'Loss leads to recovery, and recovery must bring something better; that's how the loss becomes meaningful,' right, Dad?

6. Describe a dream where you met a long-lost relative, model 6:

In the family, the person I love and admire the most is my older brother. Two years ago, after graduating from the military university, my brother was assigned to work in the border area. Since then, he rarely comes home, only occasionally writing letters to the family. When he was at home, he was very loving towards me. Every evening, he accompanied me in my studies, helping me solve math problems quickly. The bond between us siblings is very close. Now that he's far away, I feel sad and lonely.

Tomorrow is the math exam, so I try to solve the practice problems to do well in the test. I have solved almost all the problems, except for one very difficult one. I think for a long time but can't find the solution. Now, I only wish my older brother was beside me to explain the problem. It's late, the difficult math problem makes me tired, and everything around me fades away, fades away...

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door accompanied by a familiar voice, 'Hey kiddo, open the door for me!' Ah, it was my older brother! He's back. I jumped up and quickly opened the door, welcoming him inside. He put his backpack down and ruffled my hair:
_ Are you solving math problems? You're excellent at it!

Then he pulled me to sit on the chair, inquiring about my studies. I enthusiastically shared my academic achievements with him. After listening, he chuckled:
_ That's my little sister for you!

I insisted that he share stories from his days at the border. He happily recounted numerous amusing military tales. As I attentively listened to his stories, I noticed his skin had become much darker, likely from constant exposure to sun and mist. His physique had grown more robust, well-prepared to withstand the harsh weather at the border. Yet, his eyes remained bright and affectionate, looking at me with gentleness.
_ My big sister has grown so much! Do you miss me at home? Without me teaching you, you must face difficulties with those challenging problems, right? Even though I can't help you study like before, I'll always cheer you on. Don't ever lose heart! You have to study really well so that I can brag about my good little sister to my comrades.
_ I promise I'll try my best in my studies. I won't let you down, big brother. I have to be worthy of being a soldier's sister.

He hugged me tightly, patted my shoulder, then stood up, put on his backpack, and walked towards the door. Waving goodbye, he said:
_ I have to go now! Duty is calling!

Recalling a dream where I reunited with a long-lost relative is an intriguing topic, helping me practice combining descriptive techniques and emotions in writing. Additionally, there are other prompts in the curriculum such as: Hearing sad news about a distant family member, write a letter of inquiry and encouragement, or Write a short paragraph about your grandfather, grandmother, or another relative, which are also quite engaging. Explore further to excel in the subject of Literature.