I had a dream once... At least, I think it was a dream. I was very young, but I still remember it so vividly and I still think of it often.
It was the summer I turned four years old. The fireflies were just beginning to rise out of the grass as a calm warm breeze swept across the field next to our house - the field I spent many lazy afternoons playing in.
My stringy, dark blonde hair gently tickled my shoulders. I was wearing my favorite purple shirt with the straps tied into bows at the shoulders. It billowed out around me when I twirled, almost like a dress.
This day was like so many others that had come before it, yet somehow I could tell there was something very different about it. I wasn't sure what it was, though. The hum of the cicadas was the same as always, and I could even hear the sound of crickets slowly creeping up as dusk set it.
But then… There it was - a strange noise. It almost sounded like a machine, surging in and out. I could've sworn there was a shape forming, but my eyes hadn't quite adjusted to the dusky light, so I wasn't sure if I was actually seeing anything. That was until it started becoming more… Solid. It was a big blue box with big white letters painted on it. My reading skills weren't all that great when I was four, so I couldn't tell you what it said.
I was wide-eyed with amazement, my mouth hanging open slightly. I remember wondering if I should be scared, or if I should run away. I didn't feel scared, I just felt a rush of excitement. What had I found? Or rather… What had found me?
It was only when the door swung open into itself that I even noticed it was there. It only held my attention for a brief second before a head poked out. It belonged to a man with a very high, square forehead that was mostly obstructed from view by a wave of brown hair. He had a rather large nose and hooded eyes.
"W-who are you?" I stuttered, still in awe.
He smiled the most cheeky smile that I had ever seen on anyone's face, which is the feature I remember the best.
"Why, I'm the Doctor!" He exclaimed.
I half smiled back, slightly sucking in my bottom lip before asking, "Doctor Who?"