Calufrax

Story: Flashing Before
Author: were_lemur
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 535
Author's Summary: As Donna dies (from a heart attack, at about 100 years old), she finally remembers the Doctor.
Characters/Pairings: Donna Noble, Tenth Doctor
Warnings: Major Character Death (see prompt)

Recced because: Thinking seriously about what happened to Donna in Journey's End is something I try to avoid doing whenever possible, because of how legitimately depressing it was. If I were in Donna's place, I'd rather take my memories and my chances than go back to the life I'd left behind. But I also have trouble reading fix-its, because they're either too reminiscent of the original tragedy (see, re: depression), or because they skip over it lightly and she's all sunshine and happiness a moment later. That's where this fic comes in. It doesn't softpedal the sadness, but it also offers a legitimate excuse for not dwelling on it: would you choose to spend your last moments being sad and betrayed and furious, or instead dwell on the wonder of memories you'd lost - and the wonder of the life you did live, after all? It's exactly the right sort of smiling-through-the-tears to do justice to the original and still offer some measure of peace.