Judge’s comments: Well written, poignant, well paced. The details are nice, lovely. As a vignette, this works beautifully, although the story lover in me was waiting for some sort of twist or wrap-up at the end that might have caught me off guard.

I smooth out the beautiful gown, my fingers catching on the glossy satin fabric. Alone in the room, my tears fall unnoticed, splashing onto my perfectly manicured nails and coursing down my cheeks. In a moment I will be stepping out to oohs and aahs and caresses and smiles.

The young woman in the mirror before me glances up, staring deeply into my shining hazel eyes. There’s only one caress I long for, one confident kiss on my brow, one hand to stroke my blushing cheeks. His hand. His smile. His arm in mine.

My father was a wonderful man. He’d spend long hours at the hospital each weekday to keep food on the table, and then he would come home, not to pass out on the couch with a beer or cigarette, but to get down on the floor and wrestle with me, or play a game of checkers. He never drank. He never smoked. He never swore. He loved every game imaginable. He was a superb surgeon.

And he had the most wonderful sense of humor. You could be drinking a soda and wish you weren’t when he cracked a joke. You could sit down on a chair and wish you’d never even known what a pinecone was. He was always good for a laugh.

I can hear them outside the door. A low hum. A gentle murmuring. My bridesmaids, my mother, my soon-to-be mother-in-law. Waiting for me to emerge. Waiting to see my beautiful gown and shimmering veil.

Doctor Who. Dad was always joking he’d dress up like Doctor Who at my wedding.

Call me Amelia Pond. Call my future husband Rory. Even if I do have red hair, David looks nothing like Rory. A dark complexion, coupled with dark eyes and a goofy smile. Even so, Dad would have liked him. As it was, he never even met him.

This must stop. The tears, the regrets. Dad is in heaven where he belongs. One day I’ll see him again. One day David will meet him, too. Dad would have approved of David. Both of them love sports, and both have an intense dislike of sauerkraut. Rotten cabbage belongs in the trash, Dad would have said. David would have retorted and said it belonged in an incinerator.

Then they’d both laugh.

My reflection smiles, and I breathe deeply, closing my eyes. Today’s the day. Today is when forever starts. And while it is Uncle Mark waiting outside the door and not Dad, I feel a sense of peace and certainty. Dad would have approved. Dad would have been happy. Dad is happy.

A knock on the door. A question, to which I reply with an affirmative. Yes, I’m almost ready. I shall be out soon.

I pull a facial tissue out of the nearby dispenser and wipe my face. Good thing I don’t wear much makeup. Even waterproof mascara would have been streaking down my cheeks today. Dad would have said I looked like an alien from an old Star Trek episode.

I straighten and lift my chin. Well, Amelia Pond, you have a date with destiny. And even if the doctor is away, the Tardis awaits. Rory awaits. David awaits.

I reach for the handle. My heart whispers one last farewell to the doctor.

My time has come.

My time is calling.

I’m ready for my next adventure.