Vivid dream or past life memory? A WWII soldier in a hazy library has haunted me for years.

When I was in seventh grade, I had a dream so hyper-vivid it felt less like a dream and more like a memory. Six years later, it hasn't faded even a little bit.

I was standing on the upper floor of an old, atmospheric library. Everything was washed in a dull, hazy brown—surrounded by towering wooden shelves and winding stairs. The entire scene felt muted, except for one person: a young man standing a short distance away, looking directly into my eyes.

He was in his late teens or early 20s, wearing a distinct World War II soldier’s uniform complete with the cap. At the time, I knew almost nothing about military history, yet the details on his uniform were inexplicably accurate.

His gaze wasn't scary or cruel—it was profound, intense, and impossible to put into words.

Then, the entire scene shattered. The library collapsed around us, but his eyes never left mine. I felt a sudden sensation of free-falling into absolute darkness, and then I woke up.

Here is the part I can’t explain:

It’s been over five years, and whenever I try to meditate or focus too deeply on his face, tears instantly fill my eyes. I’m not actively feeling sad, but the physical reaction is completely involuntary. It’s an overwhelming emotional surge that I can't control.

Was this just a strangely detailed trick of my adolescent brain? A past life memory? Or did I somehow connect with someone else's ghost?

Has anyone ever experienced an involuntary physical/emotional reaction to a single dream years later? What do you think this was?