The best word I’ve heard that covers that, is the Portuguese " Saudade "; especially because it’s ingrained in the culture ( e.g. Fado) .same for Brazil ofc.
It’s possible to be used in that context, same way OP is saying that he feels nostalgic for something that didn’t happened. Saudades is a feeling of nostalgia. So if someone was asking the exact same question in Portuguese he would ask something among the lines of “what’s the name for saudades of something that happened in a dream”
But now we’re stuck where we were before, it’s no different from nostalgia or longing in that regard where it’s not implied that it’s something that didn’t happen, which I think is what OP wants.
The best word I’ve heard that covers that, is the Portuguese " Saudade "; especially because it’s ingrained in the culture ( e.g. Fado) .same for Brazil ofc.
Not once have I heard it in the context of something that didn’t happen though
It’s possible to be used in that context, same way OP is saying that he feels nostalgic for something that didn’t happened. Saudades is a feeling of nostalgia. So if someone was asking the exact same question in Portuguese he would ask something among the lines of “what’s the name for saudades of something that happened in a dream”
But now we’re stuck where we were before, it’s no different from nostalgia or longing in that regard where it’s not implied that it’s something that didn’t happen, which I think is what OP wants.