Yesterday, at 11pm, Amelia met the most amazing man in all of time and space.
He was funny, weird and... amazing.
This morning, Amelia Jessica Pond woke up in her bed, but unlike any other morning, that's not where she fell asleep.
Where was The Doctor?
Where was her Raggedy Man?
Amelia woke up, feeling like she had gotten no sleep at all.
Why did this morning feel different?
That's when she looked out her window, to see a very broken shed, and her suitcase sitting near it.
So, it hadn't been a dream... Who had put her to bed, then?
Aunt Sharon said "it's a lovely story, Amelia," but what did she know?
She hadn't met him.
1 week.
He said 5 minutes. He promised. Where was he? Mels can't wait to meet him, and Amelia had to convince Rory he was real. Of course The Raggedy Doctor was real.
1 year.
Yesterday Amelia and Rory dressed up, and painted a big box blue. Mels punched a boy who called Amelia insane in the face. Everything was normal, so why did Amelia feel so sad?
Because, everything was normal. Where was Prisoner Zero, The Doctor and the adventures he had promised her?
5 years.
Amy had pretended to stop believing in him, because 12 year olds don't have imaginary friends. Because believing separated her from the other children. Because she bit another psychiatrist. Because she really did believe in him, and was too afraid to accept that he wasn't coming back.
10 years.
On Amy's 17th birthday, she had a dress up party.
Everyone had to dress up as something starting with the letter "D".
No body knew why she chose the letter.
Rory came as a doctor (his dream job), Mels came as a dragon (the only thing as fiery as her), and Amy dressed as a dancer (because who doesn't like dancing?)
No body came as The Doctor.
The Doctor didn't come either, even though she sent an invitation.
She would never stop waiting and she would never stop believing, no matter how many times she lied to herself.
12 years.
She heard a whooshing sound.
She heard the door open.
By now she had her policewoman get-up on.
She heard footsteps.
She heard a voice.
A voice he thought she'd never hear again, a voice he had almost forgotten.
A voice she'll never forget.
She had her cricket bat at the ready...
"Amelia! Are you alright?"
12 years and a day.
Her Raggedy Doctor came back.
He brought Prisoner Zero, the Police Box and the adventure he promised her.
And, now he was gone.
Her Raggedy Doctor was gone.
Again.
14 years.
They met when she was 7.
He came back when she was 19.
Now, 21 years old she was, and not even a day until her wedding.
She wasn't ready.
Marriage is a big step in life, and when you're not ready, when you still want to hold onto your childhood, then all of time and space was a good escape.
She hated leaving Rory, but she couldn't get married.
She couldn't grow up.
Not just yet.