Doomsday

It was colder than she would have thought, kneeling on the frost-bitten ground, one gloved hand tracing a headstone that was before her. Her index finger traced out the name 'Paulina', a slow and reverent movement to her tracing. The girl's lovely face was twisted into a sorrowfuly expression, and her dark eyes were filled with pain. Tears tracked their way down her face, and she leaned forward, until her forehead was resting against the even colder stone. She could feel the letters pressing into her skin, but she made no move to back away.

"I've missed you, Aunt Polly. I've gone to school, just like you always wanted, and I've learned so much. I'm going to be a scientist, just like you always wanted me to be. An Engineer, so I can build things. Won't that be grand? Maybe one day I can invent a TARDIS. I'll go back in time after you. Then we could travel to so many places, just like we did in my stories." She sniffled.

"I wish you were still here. You're my best friend, you know, and I miss you. You're the only person I know who would have given everything for me. I know how the Doctor feels, you know? Nobody stays for long. They've all got so many lives, and so much going on. They don't need me to hold them back. The only person who would have stayed with me is gone forever. And there's no way to go back- the walls have sealed us apart."

Martha Smith leaned back on her heels, placing the small bouquet that she'd brought in front of it. "I want to be brave, like him. I can smile and laugh, even when I'm thinking about you. I can make other friends, and wish that they understood me like you did. And maybe someday I'll find someone who can understand me that way. Maybe then I won't have to be alone anymore. I can be normal, and love, and laugh and live. Until then, I'm on my own. It's better that way anyhow, innit?"

"Thanks so much, Aunt Polly. You gave me life. I looked into your kind eyes, and saw hope. I'm staying with Dad's sister for Christmas, you know, and she thinks I'm shopping. She'd be so angry if she knew I was here. But I had to see you, Aunt Polly. I had to bring you the present, and wish you a Happy Christmas. I love you, and I'll be 'round. Just you wait, someday I'll be happy again, and I'll build you a better headstone than this stupid Angel. And someday I'll be buried next to you, where I belong, Aunt Polly. Because sometimes I think that you're really the only one that ever cared."

Martha pressed a kiss to her fingertips, which she then pressed against the cold headstone. Then she turned, her face a calm mask, and walked away.