Last night I dreampy I was on a bus. From the window of the bus I saw a paining of a friend of mine, or at least it looked like a friend of mine albeit from a few years back. I went in and purchased the paiting despite it being $200 and the fact that I couldn't really afford it. I soon found out the painting had a picture on each side - one of my friend and one of a vase containing flowers. Rather than hang the painting up I put it in storage with the Vase side facing out.
It seems like the vase/flowers represent something about your friend. It seems that by storing the painting so that the vase shows, rather than his picture, you are trying to focus on his inner qualities, rather than his outward appearance.
I think your dream may also be looking at the past, wondering what is happening with your old friend/s - perhaps the vase represents your life now, and the friend on the other side of the picture represents the life that is behind you. You have stored the painting somewhere safe though so, just as you could go and get the painting and look at both sides if it were real, you always have the option of calling old friends up in the future - your dream could be letting you know this?
Yeah - I used to be very close with my friend in the dream but in recent times we have grown apart. He doesn't make any effort to contact me and I guess I feel rather hurt by it. I do try and concentrate on his inner qualities because I know he cares, despite his thoughtlessness. It's good to know that he is still there, a nice assurance to take from the dream...