Six months ago:

"Think about it at least. It might do you some good to get out. Bit of cake, bit of alcohol- you know, fun!" Donna typed, fingers flying over the keyboard.

"I'm sorry, I know this means a lot to you. It is just not possible."

Donna grumbled in frustration as she read the reply. She fixed her laptop with a beady glare that would have made it yelp if it were able. People usually caved in the face of the redhead's indomitable will (or sharp tongue, if she were honest with herself) but her friend was proving to be just as stubborn.

Over the past months, Donna and her book club buddy "Epsilon0" had become quite close. The username was apparently a maths joke, but Donna charitably forgave this of the poor idiot. No one else had joined their group, so they had decided to make a go of it with just the two of them. They took it in turns to pick the book that they'd read and discuss.

After Donna had adored the first few suggestions she received, she found that Epsilon's tastes were eclectic but still spoke to her. They were equally voracious readers, which was remarkable because Donna's Super Temp ability to speed-read meant that she went through several books a day. Together their little group tore through everything from Greek plays, tomes of fairytales, scientific treatises, graphic novels, to biographies of people Donna had never heard of but were never the less fascinating. Lost in a world of words, she was able to temporarily forget her heartache.

"Please? Please! Please please please please?"

"Apparently semantic satiation negates guilt trips, so no."

"Cheeky!"

"You love it."

As they got to know each other in a shared journey through prose, Donna had felt comfortable mentioning her personal life. Epsilon had lost a spouse as well. Neither got into the specifics of their personal pain, but she felt united in the loss of something neither could properly verbalise. Donna told her friend about frequent migraines that she suffered, her divorce, and the unknown emptiness in her life. She talked about mundane things like stargazing with her grandfather as they huddled over mugs of hot cocoa.

Donna initially felt like she was boring or depressing, but she soon realised that the other person was sincerely interested in her stories, almost living vicariously through her. Her friend didn't seem to have a job or a social life, no ties to the world. Donna wondered if Epsilon was a shut-in of some sort. She felt a rush of empathy for someone that obviously had no friends or family in their dark times.

Over all else, she knew that her friend needed human contact, to not feel alone. Donna tried to be the rock of reality in the stream of fantasy through which they swam.

Enter Donna's birthday party. The one that Donna had been dreading, and she hadn't even had time to prepare. She shouldn't even be 40 yet. It wasn't fair. Years should only count against your age if you can remember them. Nerys was planning a birthday do, full of all the people Donna had been avoiding.

"Oh, come on, then. I could really use an ally there. NERYS and my MOTHER! Need I say more?"

"I can't explain it, but there are some very good reasons why I can't."

Yesterday she had impulsively invited her book club buddy to her party.

Donna was convinced that Epsilon was from somewhere near London. Some of the books her friend suggested were self-published in small numbers, like the slim volume of poetry written by a local author, Sally Sparrow. It would be difficult for someone outside the city to buy a copy. Though this wasn't solid proof, since Eps had at times listed rare works that Donna couldn't find. A clerk at the bookshop had once told her that a particular book, Harry Potter and the Return to Hogwarts, hadn't been completed yet. Clearly Donna needed to find a shop with a more informed staff.

"You're right, of course you're right. I mean, you don't even know my name. I could be anybody. For all you know, I'm an alien," Donna joked.

"Well, everyone's an alien somewhere. Just a matter of scale."

"I just think that you need something real in your life. If you're not up for a party, we could at least meet for coffee. Somewhere safe and public. You wouldn't have to worry that I'd hurt you."

"No, look... Not having all of the pieces to the puzzle is normal for me. I know all that I need to: your compassion, your heart. This isn't an issue of trust. Please believe that nothing would make me happier than to see you, but I'm not physically able and I can't explain it in any way that would make sense."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push. You don't have to tell me your reasons. Just tell me if there's anything I can do to help, ok?"

"Thank you. Go, have good time! You deserve a bit of happiness. Just get pissed and snog a few handsome strangers for me!"

"Will do, sunshine. It wouldn't be a proper Donna Noble birthday without a few questionable choices all around! My friend Suzie woke up on a bus to Swindon last time. With no wallet, mind you. Guess who had to go pick her up from the depot?"

There was a pause, which expanded into a full-blown awkward silence. Epsilon was nearly as fast a typist as Donna herself, and had just as much to say. Usually they communicated at lightning speeds.

"Your name is Donna Noble?"

"Yeah, but you don't have to tell me what you're called just because I did."

"From Earth? London in the 21st century?"

"No, New London on Mars in the year Pineapple. Of course Earth you barmcake! Though some days I don't half wish... Anyway, nothing as interesting as that- I'm just boring old Donna from Chiswick."

Another long silence.

"I keep crossing boundaries and making you uncomfortable today. Forgive me? Must be going daft in my advanced age. Let's talk about something else, yeah?" suggested Donna, trying to salvage the conversation. This was not going as planned.

After a few minutes, Donna went to make herself a nice cuppa. When she returned there was a new message waiting.

"It appears that the universe is telling me I'm not done saving you."

"What are you on about? Can you stop being flippin' mysterious and make sense for five consecutive minutes today!"

"Would that I could. I'm not sure how this happened, but there is something that isn't finished with either of us."

"And what, exactly, is that supposed to mean?"

"Spoilers, sweetie."

TBC