My inspiration for this short fiction is a Randy Travis song called Satisfied Mind, the appropriate lyrics from which I've posted as an introduction to this story. I don't own the song or own any of the Doctor Who characters. As usual I'm just here to have fun. Please read and review. All feedback is appreciated.

"He said don't look into the darkness
If you want to see true black
Look into a morning's brightness
When love ain't coming back
And you will find right there a darkness that blinds
And don't think wealth is ever having
All you want all to yourself
It is found when you are giving
What you have to someone else
The only difference in the rich and the poor
Is a satisfied mind

And one light began to fade
As one grew brighter
And he said I ain't afraid of dying
Cause I know there's something worse
When you have to see your reason for living go first
And you get left behind"

Something Worse

Uncle Oliver was starting to lose his grip on reality. The death of Aunt Sylvie from cancer, nearly two years ago, had been a huge blow to the old man and had quickly driven him into a state of near constant introspection. Barbara's visits to the residential home had become less and less frequent as time had gone on. She had found communication with her uncle increasingly difficult. Most of the time he would just sit in his armchair, staring into space while she told him all of the latest family news and patted his hand with genuine affection. Oh yes, she loved him very much but she just could not get through to him any longer. The visits were just too depressing. So sad to watch such a once sharp mind deteriorate in this way. Now it had come to this.

The residential home manager broke into Barbara's thoughts once more. Barbara shook herself out of her reverie and tried to take in what the other woman was telling her.

"You must understand, Mrs. Chesterton, that Sunshine Ridge is just an ordinary retirement home. We're just not equipped to care for senile dementia patients. Your uncle needs specialist care which he can only get elsewhere. I'm very sorry but we just can't cope. Of course I'll give you all the help that I can until somewhere else is found - we'll get in a specialist nurse for him but… all this talk of time travel and space monsters. You must see that he is deteriorating quickly now."

Barbara nodded dumbly. Senile dementia. How on earth had things reached this state without her noticing? She felt ashamed of herself. It had been over a month since her last visit. She had neglected him. She knew that she, her husband Ian and her daughter Susan were all that the poor old man had left in the world. Well, it was time to put things right. She was not about to let him down any longer.

"Thank you for informing me, Mrs Camber. Yes, of course my husband and I shall make the necessary arrangements. I'll go and see him now."

She shook hands with Mrs Camber and, still lost in her thoughts, wended her way through the corridors of the home until she reached the familiar blue door of her uncle's flat. She reached out her hand to knock on the door, then hesitated. What was the point? She turned the door handle and walked into the flat.

"Hello Uncle Oliver. It's Barbara. I've come to visit you."

The old man was slumped in his chair on the far side of the room. His longish white hair falling in unkempt strands across his sad old face. At the sound of her voice he lifted his head and just for a moment his hazel eyes shone with a fierce burning intelligence.

"Hmm? Yes, my dear. Quite so, quite so."

THE END