A huge tremor shakes the island, and he is nowhere to be found. He must have gone off, still thinking I was safe. I start to feel a bit of panic, but it quickly turns to shock as I see the little girl, the small, fragile girl standing uncertainly in the midst of the raging disaster. We locked eyes, and I could see fear in her wide eyes, and even so, relief and hope as she spots me on the beach.
In a split second, I realize my mistake. She had believed me when I told her that everything would be okay, that we would be saved. She followed me as I followed him; blindly, believing that no harm would befall us. I always forget how dangerous it can be, travelling with him.
I never listen to him when he tells me to stay put, to stay safe. Why should I? I always think. He's out there in trouble, and I should be with him too.
I have never regretted staying at his side, never. Until now.
Another few seconds pass, and I rush over and hold the girl in my arms. I find myself whispering reassuring things to her as I lead us to a safer spot behind a large boulder, away from the rolling waves and falling rocks. I hear the roar of the ocean behind us.
"We'll be fine, sweetie. He'll come for us, you'll see. He'll find us. We'll be fine, just fine-"
She looks up at me, a little confused. I numbly register that I am crying, and I see that the girl is becoming more afraid.
Another tremor shakes the island again, and there is a strange calm. The water that had been steadily rising just a minute ago has now started to retreat significantly, to the point where I no longer see any water on this side of the rock. I feel a great chill pass though my body as I understand what it means. There is a monstrous wall of water forming behind us, and it is going to devour this island.
In a moment, a great and terrible clarity fills me. I look down at the girl.
"What's your name, sweetheart?" I ask gently.
"Skye," she answers softly.
"My name's Leona."
She looks at me again, a renewed hope in her large dark eyes. "Tell me about that man. The magic man who saved all those people just now."
I will never see him again.
"He's a brilliant man, so clever. He's saved so many people, entire civilizations, even entire planets. He's stopped stars from burning out, and he's stopped universes from collapsing. He even saved me from a life of bleak hopelessness. He never fails, not when it comes to keeping humanity alive." I feel a few more tears escape and roll down my cheeks. Skye smiles and wiped my tears away.
"He'll come for us. Don't worry." I try to smile back and embrace her again. I hear a distinctive roar behind us, getting louder and louder as the tsunami rushes forward. A great shadow begins to sweep over the beach.
Skye and I both look at each other. I feel hopeless, useless, because I can't save her. Skye has a confused and fearful look on her face as she turns to the cloudy sky. I hold her tight, unable to do anything else.
"Is it him?" She whispers. "Is it him?"
I look up to where she is still staring. A great emotion engulfs me, a joy so great that I don't know whether to scream or laugh. I'm no fool, though. I know we are going to die, but at least I still get to see him one last time before the wave crashes over us.
He's there, in the TARDIS, not even screaming out to me because he knows well as I that it is too late.
Goodbye, my Doctor.
