A Loyal Companion.

I Seldom have nightmares, but when I do, they’re inexplicably abstract and terrifying at the same time. It’s like I’m not dreaming an event, but a feeling. So I can dream fear or desperation and I feel it without having an explanation for it. It’s horrifying. What I do know, is that like Gilgamesh, once I wake up, I like to try to decipher my nightmare or dream. Nightmares usually don’t symbolize positive things, but either bottled up feelings or stress and nervousness. Something more terrifying than having a nightmare is having consecutive nightmares. This is the kind of thing that makes you afraid of falling asleep. When Gilgamesh woke up the first night, he was troubled, but reassurance arrived when Enkidu told him his nightmare was a good sign. The next nights were big blows towards Gilgamesh’s courage, for each night he was more deeply troubled. He asked himself the reason for his nightmares to be good signs. With each temptation to turn back towards the plain or to capture Huwawa and make him build the gate to Uruk, Enkidu was there as his voice of reason, as his courage. It is much easier to overcome a fear when you have someone to walk you through it. When they confronted Huwawa, they supported each other in the following manner:

"Then Gilgamesh saw the face of Huwawa the demon

and fled from the face, hiding himself away,
and Enkidu found him and said: "Two people, companions,

they can prevail together against the terror."

Pg .26

A friend can act as an incredible helper in the path to overcoming fear. Also, in daily life there is fear of change, of acceptance, and of courage, all which a friend can serve as reliable assistance and support.