Disclaimer: I'm just a dedicated, sleep-deprived fan.
We don't do goodbyes
"Clara. My Clara," he used to say, his face raptured in admiration and affection.
Her face was red and full of despair. Angry tears threatened to fall.
"He used to call me his Clara, but he never said goodbye! The other you, he just left! He left me!"
She felt betrayed.
"I don't do goodbyes," he said in that short, harsh way of his latest self.
"I came to say goodbye," he said.
That caught her off guard.
"I thought you didn't do goodbyes," she said, hesitantly.
"I don't, but you deserve better."
He sounded deadly serious.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
There was a pregnant pause. She braced herself.
"Go on, then."
He took his time to breathe and look around the room.
"In all of my lifetimes, you've been with me," he begun at last. "I know you don't remember everything, but I do. I remember every time you saved me."
He paused as if considering his next words, and then looked straight into her eyes again.
"You're my oldest friend, Clara. I know you think of yourself as his friend, but I can't remember a time when I didn't know you. You're my Clara, always, no matter what form I take."
That was not what she expected from him at all.
She had stopped breathing, but she would not cry. She would be strong for him, for the last memory he'd have of her.
"You know what?" she said after a long pause. "I'm sorry it took me so long to see it, but you're my Doctor too. All of you."
He smiled at her. Sweetly, sadly. She smiled back, trying to pour in all the affection she had so far denied him. Her eyes were stinging.
They never hugged. They just stood there for a few more moments, never looking away from each other. Then it was time.
"Goodbye, Clara."
She took another deep breath.
"You don't like it, so I won't say it." She smiled. "Just... run. Run, you clever boy. And please, please..." Her voice got caught in her throat. "...remember me."
His replied was final, serious, full of certanty.
"I will. I will."
His eyes were glimmering.
And then he was gone. Run back to his Tardis.
For a brief and desperate moment, she contemplated running after him, giving him that last hug, asking him for a final adventure... But the room grew silent too quickly for her feet to start moving, and she knew it was useless anyway. No amount of time with him would ever be enough.
And just like that, there was nothing out of the ordinary in her leaving room.