It was Rory who unearthed it: a small wooden box with ornate clasps. It looked normal enough, but the Doctor's expression was enough to alert Amy's curiosity.
"What's that?" She snatched it from Rory and screwed up her face in disgust when she saw how much dust there was blanketing it. "You really need to tidy more!" she told the Doctor, coughing, as wiped it off.
He said nothing, staring at the box. No incredulous look, no retort about saving the universe being more exciting.
It was too much for Amy, and she opened it, the hinges groaning as she did. It was full of letters, yellowed with age, stacked neatly in a pile. Under normal circumstances, Amy would have shut the box again – you don't read someone else's letters – but the letter on top looked horribly familiar.
She picked it up, amazed, and began to read.
Dear Raggedy Doctor,
I don't know your address so I hope that just putting Doctor, Police Box on the envalope and putting it in the letterbox will be enough. When are you coming back? You said it would only take five minutes but it's been six months. I'm eight now.
My Arnt Sharon found me asleep in the garden when she got back and she was so angry, espeshly when she saw the kitchen aswell. I told her all about you but she said you werent real. I shouted at her then and said she was jelous that you came for me, not her. She sent me to my room.
Has something happened to you – is that why you haven't come back yet?
Arnt Sharon took me to a Sykiatrist or something and he said your not real too so I bit him. Only Mels and Rory believe me, although I'm not sure if Rory really does, or just goes along with it because he wants to play with me.
Please come back soon.
Love from Amelia Pond
Amy looked up, shocked.
"How did you find that?"
But the Doctor just smiled maddeningly.
"Oh, well, you know me."
Amy wondered how much more she'd know about him if she knew the content of these letters.
Just in case you didn't realise, the spelling and gramatical errors are Amelia's, not mine!
I plan to write lots of these letters, so if you have any ideas or feedback, please let me know.