I have a recurring dream about my father, who died when I was twelve. In the dream, he always shows up, in the present, with some plausible story about where he has been this whole time and why it was necessary for me to believe he was dead.
I had that dream at least once a month for years. I have it less now, but it still shows up now and then. Pretty clear message from my subconscious, I think. I'm still trying to heal from that abandonment, even though I know my dad's not coming back.
L