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It was just an average walk in the woods; that's all it was. Well, that's all it was supposed to be. Never would I imagine that the fantasies in my head would become a reality, and never would I imagine that I would almost die in the process. I guess that just comes with the experience. It was about a month ago when I decided to take a hike into the mountains, just a day hike that wouldn't have taken me too long, a few hours at most. I've always loved nature and being in the woods always calmed me. That day I purposefully chose a more secluded area to walk because I didn't really feel like interacting with anyone on the trail. Around 10:00am, I made my way through the woods. It was quiet and peaceful for a fall morning. They always say that walking in nature positively impacts your mind, but that day my brain was my enemy.
Endless thoughts clouded my mind as I continued to walk along, with my mind stuck in the doorway of dark and intrusive thoughts. This wasn't the first time I started feeling like that and that it wasn't going to be the last. However, it made no difference how many times I've thought it would be better if I hadn't existed or that I am a burden to society. I always felt the same. As I contemplated the action I had thought through a thousand times, my footsteps became heavier and heavier. At some point, I deviated from the trail and made my towards a waterfall I knew was hidden amongst the mountains. The waterfall was tall and graceful, its water overflowed its peak, and the view from atop was astonishing. Just at the edge of a cliff, the waterfall had a full view of the rest of the mountain, and it was breathtaking. At last, I had met the end of my endeavor, and I stood atop of the waterfall looking over the valley below. Looking over the edge, the voice called out to me again. Just jump. No one will miss you. You are a burden to everyone who knows you. It would be better if you jumped. It's not worth it. The voices whispered at me as I slowly made my way to the edge of the cliff. I stared down at the waters below and decided that falling to your death wouldn't be a bad way to die. At least it wouldn't be painful, and you would die quickly.
Suddenly I heard a strange sound, a whooshing sound that faded in and out. At that moment, I felt compelled to investigate what was making the odd sound coming from the woods around me. After several minutes of wandering around the forest, I saw it. A dilapidated blue police phone box leaned against a tree. It was covered in dirt, and the paint had chipped away. Moss and leaves covered the broken-down police box, and it looked as if it had been for several decades. I slowly made my way towards it, and as it unlocked itself and let me gently push the door in. I looked around, astonished as the room on this inside was increasingly larger than what the outside of the box looked like. This… this is real? Everything was real? There's no way. I crept into the dark and disheveled control room, and small saplings and vines had started to grow within it.
"Doctor?" I whispered into the dark.
Then I saw him. A pair of legs that stuck out from underneath some rubble. I quickly made my way over to the mess, and I grabbed his legs and started to drag his body outside into the light. He was tall and slender with brown hair and wearing a tan suit with a bowtie. I kneeled beside him and went to observe his face; he was bleeding just above his left eye. Suddenly he woke up and bolted straight up with his head colliding with mine.
"AHH!" We both collectively screamed because of the pain.
"What was that for!" He shouted, holding his hands on his forehead. He looked over at me as he pressed his hand over his forehead.
"What was what for!" I responded. "I save your life then you smack me in the head! I should be asking that question!"
He looked around in confusion, then he rose to his feet and held out his hand to me. "Well then I guess I should thank you. That little project did NOT go as planned." He emphasized the not with a raise of his eyebrows.
Hesitantly I took his hand got off the ground. "Th... thanks," I stuttered.
"What's seems to be the problem? Not used to dragging people from out under a pile of debris?"
"No! No… It's just that… you're real? Everything that happened… was real? The Cyberman, the Daleks, the war, time and space travel…" my words started to trail off. "It wasn't just a fantasy?" I looked at him with bewildered eyes.
"It never was." he smiled fondly at me. "Though much of it was exaggerated and made up. You humans have the strangest sense of imagination."
I stared at the ground in disbelief.
"I never caught your name."
"Oh, it's Y…. Y/N."
"Well then Mx. Y/N," he said with a bow. "I must thank you again for saving me. If there is anything I can do to repay you, please let me know."
"Well now that I know that everything is real if anything happens, you'll be the first person I'll call to save the day." I chuckled.
The Doctor looked at me for a moment than smiled at me sadly. Suddenly he grabbed my arm and pulled me into a hug. "It's ok. Life won't always feel like this. I know it’s hard now and it feels like the darkness is endless, but if you can manage to crawl out of it, it’s so beautiful on the other side. Life is worth living."
With that, I started to tear up and hug him back. "H… How did you know?"
"It's easy, I am a doctor after all."
That is when the tears started to flow freely, and I held on to the Doctor like a child who clings to her mother. After a few minutes, I stepped back and let go. The Doctor put his hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. "So, do you wanna see her?"
"What?" I asked, trying desperately to look as if I wasn't crying.
"The Tardis. Do you wanna see her in action?" he smiled an adventurous grin. The Doctor looked at me for a moment before he grabbed my hand and pulled me inside.
"Oh wow, it's bigger on the inside." As the Doctor started the Tardis, I stared at the room as it came to life.
He grinned like a child. "I Love it when they say that!" he flitted around the room as I stood there, wringing his hands. "Now!" he exclaimed. "How would you," he pointed at me, excited. "Like to come for an adventure?"
All I could do was nod my head. The words didn't even leave my mouth as I stared in disbelief at what was going around me. Gone were the leaves and vines growing in the Tardis, and now it glowed and hummed a beautiful melody. Similarly, my brain's intrusive and suicidal thoughts were replaced with wonder and curiosity.
"Done!" the Doctor shouted. He turned and looked at me with a mischievous look in his eyes and anticipation in his smile. "So… all of time and space, everything that ever happened or ever will – where do you want to start?"