The afternoon sun filtered through the curtains of Carl Fredricksen’s living room, casting gentle shadows on the worn floorboards. Carl’s head flopped as he began to doze. Tip-tap-tip-tap. His head jolted back up. Were those footsteps? He thought about getting up for a very brief second then closed his eyes again. Clang. The post is late today. Hold on, it’s the afternoon. Isn’t it? Yes, it definitely is. He gripped the arms of his battered chair and began to slowly force himself upright. He reached out and grabbed his walker, a metal stick with battered tennis balls pierced in the bottom.
Slowly, always slowly. Every day everything was a little bit slower. Everything ached a little more. He grunted as he eventually shuffled over to his window and looked out. There was no sign of anything in his garden. No workmen, no Wilderness Explorers. All he could see was an old man with a mop of curly hair walking down the path. Not as old as him, Carl thought, but then is anyone as old as me?
Carl turned to look above his fireplace. “You’ll forever be young Ellie.” he said under his breath as his eyes gazed at their wedding photograph.
“Can I help you Master?” an enthusiastic voice panted. It was Dug, Carl’s trusty dog.
“Can you make me young again?” Carl asked, chuckling.
“No Master, I am not able to do that. I could get you a ball?” the dog asked hopefully.
Carl strained to pat the dog on the head, and then walked towards the door, Dug following, running between his legs, almost tripping Carl up numerous times.
Carl had no idea why but he felt nervous. He had opened this mailbox hundreds of times but something felt different. Stop being so silly, it is probably a flyer for some new fad thing that is going on in the town. A fitness class or something to do with those blasted mobile phones. He couldn’t shake his turning stomach though.
The rusty hinge of the old mailbox groaned as he slid it open, the metal door clanging with a hollow, echoing thud.
As the door opened a bunch of envelopes cascaded out, floating gently to the floor, others still crammed in the box. Carl frowned. Damn kids!
Just as he was about to wave his stick aggressively at the man now far in the distance Carl noticed something. His heart almost jumped out of his body as he noticed a familiar handwriting on the envelopes.
'My dearest Carl' read one, 'Kid' said another in a tatty envelope with very tatty handwriting. But he knew that writing from a mile off, it was Ellie's.
For the next five minutes Carl scooped up the envelopes, shoving them in a bag Dug had rushed to get. He was tired, he was nervous, but most of all he was thrilled. He returned to his chair and ran his eyes over the oldest looking envelope, he carefully ran his finger under the seal and pulled out a piece of battered paper covered in splodges of ink. He began to read.
20th January 1939
Hi kid!
I’m not sure if I will send this to you or not but you don’t say a whole lot so I thought you might like to talk in a letter. It was so fun seeing you yesterday, I hope your arm gets better soon, I am still laughing about it, sorry!
You are still a member of my EXCLUSIVE club, me and you, adventure is out there!! When do you think you can get us a blimp? I was working out what I will need to pack. What do you think you will pack? It looks hot in South America, so make sure you pack for warm weather.
No backing out now kid!!!
Carl couldn’t believe what he was reading, his eyes started to soften. He could almost hear Ellie’s voice in every word, filled with enthusiasm and hope. Her playful spirit and dreams of adventure had always been a part of their lives, even when the reality of life held them back.
He relaxed into his chair as he remembered the dreams they shared about exploring the world, about finding Paradise Falls. The blimp, the adventure, all part of their grand plan.
Carl carefully folded the letter and placed it on a table to the side of him. He pushed his hand inside the envelope and pulled out another letter. Dug was curled up by Carl's feet as he read on.
30th October 1939
I wrote you a letter ages ago but I never sent it!! It seems silly writing a letter you don’t send. But I met this really old man outside the house yesterday and he told me it wasn’t silly and that I should keep writing to you, so maybe I will.
He was a nice man, he said he knew you. He actually said he was going to know you, he's a bit crazy I think. He didn’t smell like old people, do you know the smell I mean Carl? He told me he was older than I could ever imagine. He laughed when I said he must be 50 or something. We sat on the curb outside the house and talked for ages.
He told me he was an adventurer like us, said he'd seen so many places. He told me some and I have never heard of anywhere like it. When I next see you we will have to find Gallifrey on the map - it sounds amazing!!
He kept looking behind my back for something, no idea what. Like I said, he’s crazy.
What else did he tell me about? Oh yeah, he said I should never meet my hero, says it never ends well. He obviously doesn’t know Carl Muntz though!
See you soon Carl. Like real soon, I'm coming to yours for tea later! Haha!
Carl’s eyes widened as he read about the old man Ellie had mentioned. He felt a pang of curiosity, and a sense of deja vu. He started to recall an old man himself, a man with curly grey hair much like the person walking away from the house earlier. Was it the same man? It was fascinating to think that Ellie had also met him, and that he had encouraged her to continue writing. A stranger giving Carl extra moments with his wife. Was he a stranger though? He felt like he knew the man but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
He reached into the next envelope, pulling out a bright yellow piece of paper, the handwriting was neater now.
May 13th, 1957
My Dearest Carl,
I never did get round to sending you those letters, maybe I will put them in the envelope with this one. Anyway, I am writing this letter to you on the eve of our wedding. Can you believe it? Our wedding. Our great adventure. I love you so much Carl and I cannot wait to see you tomorrow.
I was planning on writing this and telling you how much I cannot wait to marry you, but the strangest thing happened to me earlier. I was outside the house getting some fresh air when I saw him again, the man with the curly grey hair. The oddest thing was, he didn’t look any different, his hair was bigger, but everything else remained the same, right down to his clothes.
He was flapping about and running around our street, he had the funniest run I have ever seen, it is even funnier than yours! He told me to be careful, that something was watching our house. He said he would sort it but then everything went black, just for a second, it was so strange. I couldn’t see anything. I thought everybody in the street would talk about it, but nobody has mentioned it, not one single person.
Then he told me his name, he said he is called the Doctor. I said that is not a name, and he got quite offended. I seem to offend him a lot.
We chatted for a bit but he walked off when I was mid sentence, I swear he did that last time as well, he is rude and kind all at the same time, I am not sure how that is even possible.
The weirdest thing was he only went to talk to the kid down the street, John, he had a few of your balloons in his hand, I don’t know what he said to him but he gave him one, a blue one, and then he gave it to me. He said it should be my something blue for the wedding. I wonder if he knows how many balloons we have got already?
Our wedding!!! Not long now.
Love you to the moon and back,
Ellie x
There were lots of balloons at the wedding Carl remembered. His whole life seemed to involve balloons. He spent a whole day blowing them up. He remembered it well because he ran out of helium and had to blow the last bunch up with his own breath. Ellie wanted them there though, and it was worth it to see how happy they made her. Carl scrunched his face as he wondered who this strange Doctor was, he picked up the next envelope.
21st June 1957
I am frightened Carl. I don’t know what is happening. The lights have gone off. I am under the bed. I think someone is in the house. I love you!
Carl felt a chill go through his body. When was Ellie ever frightened? She was afraid of nothing. Why had she not mentioned this to him? Then he remembered…
22nd June 1957
Dear Carl,
Oh do I have a story for you!!!
I wrote you a note last night because I honestly thought I was going to be killed. You remember how we used to say that life was an adventure? I used to think it was all fun, but some adventures are more terrifying than you can imagine. This was one of them.
I was reading my book when the lights went off, they have been flickering the past few weeks and I didn’t think anything of it. I know you said you were going to change the bulbs, but I know you Carl, it takes you a long time to do what you say you are going to do
It wasn't the bulbs anyway!
As I was saying, the lights went out and I was cursing you, but then I heard something. At first I thought it was footsteps, but it didn't sound right. I heard so many noises all at once, a big bang followed by the strange footsteps, a humming noise, a scraping noise, and they were all coming up the stairs. I don't know why I did it but I hid under the bed. That's when I wrote you a note.
Then I heard a groaning noise I swore I had heard before. You know what Carl? I had heard it before, because it was the Doctor's machine. I heard him shouting my name outside the house. I wanted to crawl from under the bed but the footsteps were getting closer They weren't like normal footsteps either, there was a third noise, as if they had three feet. I knew then that it was outside the room. I felt it creeping its way inside, twisting around the furniture, coming towards me. It wasn't footsteps now, just a weird growling noise. You must think I am crazy? But I'm not Carl, this really happened.
A darkness filled the room like I have never seen before, it was like everything the darkness touched died. The Doctor kept shouting outside but then he stopped, and I heard the noise again, his machine was leaving. Well I thought it was leaving, the next thing I knew it came crashing into our bedroom, then I saw his feet, he was just sitting on our bed as if nothing was happening. He was flicking through my letters to you, I couldn't believe he was doing that. I got out from the bed to give him a good old telling off. I forgot about the darkness for a minute because he had made me so cross.
We looked at each other and I didn't know what to say. He just gave me a half hearted smile and jumped up off the bed.
He told me I was safe, but I still felt the darkness creeping into the room. It crept over your book, and I know you will be so cross, but it just vanished, as if it had been consumed. The Doctor grabbed my hand and pulled me to his machine. I didn't have time to think, I just went with him.
Darkness eating a room is one thing, but this machine, this ship, was something else. You will never believe me but it was bigger on the inside than it was on the outside. Much bigger. The Doctor was racing around pressing buttons and pulling levers but I just stood there, frozen, my hand on my mouth. I didn't know what to do. Laugh? Scream? Run? In the end I just stood there. It felt like hours but the Doctor told me it was seconds.
The next thing I knew I was back in the room and it was light again. Then I heard the car boot slamming and you muttering away, and I was so glad, I knew you were home and all this craziness would be behind me.
The Doctor took a deep breath and then spouted off a load of things. He sounded worried and excited all at the same time. He said the darkness was a thing called the Eclipsers, he said they fed on light, he told me they had been dealt with for the moment, but he would have to come back to finish the job. Then he was gone.
I didn't notice until I finished this letter, but my letters to you have gone. I don't know if the Doctor took them or they were eaten. They were silly things anyway I guess, and I am still filling out our adventure book which you seem to have forgotten about.
I wonder if I will ever tell you this story? I often wonder if I dreamt it all up. I wonder if I invented this Doctor man, he can't be real can he?
Lots of love,
Ellie x
The groaning noise? Carl closed his eyes, he had heard that noise before, he could have sworn he had.
17th March 1961
Dear Carl,
I am so, so sorry Carl. I cannot believe this has happened to us. What is wrong with me?
I love you with all my heart, the fact I cannot give you children has broken me. I know the Doctor said it was both of us, but it was my body, what did we ever do to deserve this?
I really wouldn’t blame you if you left me, left me for someone who can give you everything you want, everything you deserve in life.
I am so sorry!
I love you!
Ellie x
The ink blotted as a stray tear dripped onto the paper. Carl would never forget the day they found out they would never be parents. Ellie blamed herself for all this time? He had told her time and again it wasn’t her. It was nobody's fault, just another way of life shitting on them. They had had their fair share of bad luck, but this was more than that. It was cruel and unfair, so unfair. He let the letter fall to the floor.
March 13th, 1975
Dear Carl,
Another letter I will never send. One day I hope you get to read them though. I don’t think you ever fully realise how much you mean to me.
I want to thank you for being you. We have had some tough times, but I gain strength from how much our pain has united us. Some couples seem to lose touch with one another, but we get closer and closer as the years roll on.
If you do ever get to read these you will know about the Doctor. I think I keep seeing him, and I don’t know if it is a good thing or a bad thing.
When the tyre blew on our car I could have sworn I saw him, the day you broke your leg, I saw him, the day the tree fell on our house I definitely saw someone standing in the rain. I cannot put my finger on it, I think he is looking out for us, but sometimes I think he is causing the bad luck?
He saved me that night, maybe he keeps saving me? You might think I am mad, but the night the tree fell I got up because I thought I heard something, you will remember because you were so grumpy when I woke you up. If we were asleep the tree would have hit us. How about the time you broke your leg? If you hadn’t rolled into that blue box you would have probably broken a lot more bones.
Maybe I am just wishful thinking, but sometimes I think he is our guardian angel. It would be nice to have someone looking out for you wouldn’t it? I know you look out for me Carl, the same way I look out for you, but to have a higher power looking down and making us safe, that seems like such a special thing to have.
Or maybe I just need to get more sleep.
Love Ellie x
Carl was beginning to remember him. The man who spoke to him when he applied for the popcorn job. He told him balloons were a whole lot more fun, he said popcorn was overrated. He saw him that night in the storm as well, he remembered running outside the house, seeing the blue box, the police box, the same police box he rolled into when he tripped over.
22nd June 1977
Dear Carl,
I never did tell you about the night of the Eclipsers and the Doctor, but I always felt like they would be back. I always thought there was unfinished business. They both came back last night, well I think it was last night anyway!
I still cannot believe you slept through the whole thing!! I think with all the madness these monsters and that man bring, that is the maddest part. How can you sleep through all that noise.
You had fallen asleep in your chair so I thought it was a good chance to update our adventure book. The second I closed the book the Doctor waltzed into the house. He seems to do that a lot, he didn't even knock, I told him he bloody well should knock. I don't think he was listening though.
Every time I see that man I expect something to happen, and within a minute I heard that scraping again. The terrible noise from that night of the Eclipsers. I looked outside and it looked like darkness on top of the night, it was horrible. It was so dark I could barely see, but the Doctor had sunglasses on. He is bonkers. I actually laughed at how stupid he looked. Sunglasses in the blackest black!
That man has the weight of more than the world on his shoulders though, he has a look in his face, a look that he can feel worlds holding their breath, waiting for him to swoop in with his machine and his sunglasses. I was certainly holding my breath, watching the darkness creep down the street, streetlights blinked out of existence.
The Doctor pulled me into his machine again like last time. Do you know what happened Carl? We moved. One minute we were outside the front door, the next we were at the top of the stairs. The freakiest thing was we hadn't just moved to a different place, we had moved to a different time as well.
All those years ago hidden under the bed hearing those strange footsteps, they were me and the Doctor. The shock of what was happening made me drop the book and it landed on his foot. The Doctor was hopping about trying to keep quiet and I was trying to check he was alright. It's quite laughable really.
How strange to be in the same place twice. I never saw myself, but I felt me there. I felt me more than the darkness. This must all sound ridiculous.
We felt like the darkness was choking us. I wasn't as afraid this time though, adrenaline was kicking in, the Doctor seemed determined to stop what was going on and I wanted to help, even if he had called me a pudding brain over and over again.
Do you know how we stopped it Carl? You! You and your balloons saved the day. The Doctor heard your car coming and we ran downstairs, we crept out round the back and when you were looking for your housekey (you always leave it on the passenger seat, I don't know how you always forget) we opened the boot of your car. We crouched in the bushes and watched as your balloons slowly floated into the sky. All different colours, the only light around, it was so pretty. I love you and your balloons Carl. So innocent, so colourful, so us.
The Doctor was fiddling with his sunglasses which were now making a ridiculous noise, and as he did the balloons were moving higher and higher into the sky, they were moving quicker. The darkness followed them, the balloons just out of its reach. There was a screech and then the darkness began to shatter. It almost looked like it was burning away, like fog in the morning sun.
And just like that, Carl, it was gone. The light came flooding back, and the street lights were back on agaain, and the world didn't feel so heavy anymore. Everything was so surreal. I don't know how the light came back, but I don't think it was some weird glasses or balloons, I think it was what the balloons stood for. Love, passion, hope. How silly of me to think something like that.
I hid in the bush and watched as you walked into the house. All these thoughts slushing around in my head. I knew how happy the me inside was going to be when I saw you, and I started to cry.
The next thing I know the light was on in the bedroom and the Doctor had gone. I didn't know what to do for a second but then there it was again, the machine. The doors flung open and without a thought I ran inside.
The Doctor asked me if I wanted to see where the balloons ended up, but all I wanted to do was get back to you. He laughed at that, not a mean laugh, he seemed so happy I choose you other a trip with him. I think that is what this man is, kind. The second most kind man I have ever met.
I hope you don't mind, but I went into your car again, the other car, well the same car but a different time, and grabbed a blue balloon and gave it to the Doctor. He said he would treasure it, then he was gone.
As always this letter is full of crazy talk. But I will never forget the Doctor telling me that sometimes the most dangerous and painful things in the universe are the things we don't understand, and sometimes, the smallest and simplest things can change everything. A smile, a wave or a balloon.
If you ever feel like the dark is closing in, like the shadows are too heavy to escape, just remember, there’s always light somewhere, even in the smallest of places. And if you ever need a reminder, just look to the sky. Maybe you’ll see a few balloons floating by, bright and colourful, reminding you that the light can always come back.
Love and light,
Ellie x
Carl took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. They were beginning to ache with all the reading. He could not believe the stories flowing out of them. He remembered them all in his own little way, the noises, the missing things, that groaning. He pulled out another envelope.
12th December 2007
Dear Carl,
I saw the Doctor again today. He looked sad, like he had lost something. Which was ironic really, as he gave me something he found. He said he didn’t have any use for it now and I said it would look great on you. I was right, you look so handsome in that bowtie.
I don’t know why but the Doctor gave me the biggest hug. When he did he told me how he was so jealous of our life together. He told me he had seen so many places, met so many people, but he never had someone who would be with him for all of his life. It makes you think doesn’t it? All those adventures out there are nothing to the adventure of living a life with the person you love.
Anyway, I look forward to seeing my handsome husband in his cool bowtie.
Love you,
Ellie x
Carl played with the bowtie he was wearing, the very bowtie Ellie was talking about. He let out a sigh as he thought of all those times she put it on him.
He realised now that the pile was gone. There was only one letter left, he never wanted these to end. He put the letter on the side table, he wanted to pause the final chapter. He stared at the envelope for the next hour, it looked lonely on its own, he knew he had to read it. Reluctantly he slowly tore open the envelope and began to read.
16th May 2008
My Dearest Carl,
I am just writing you a quick note whilst you are out. I just wanted to say I love you. I love you more than you can ever imagine. I am sorry for being so slow these days, I feel so weak. I often sit in my chair and close my eyes and imagine that we are still dancing around the living room. Do you remember how we used to do that all the time? I wanted you to know that even though I cannot dance anymore, in my mind I will always be dancing with you.
I saw the old man again today, you probably think I’m mad, but he hasn’t aged a bit. I wish I could be like him. He just appeared in our house, he sat in your chair. We spoke for such a long time. He showed me something, something amazing. We made it there Carl, we really made it.
I will finish this letter tomorrow, but I need to get ready now, you are taking me on a picnic.
Carl’s heart sank. He knew the picnic, it was their last picnic. The picnic Ellie fell ill at, where he took her to the hospital that she never left. What had the Doctor shown her? Where had they made it? Carl’s glasses began to steam up, he looked down at Dug who was looking up at him with sympathetic eyes. Dug didn’t speak, he normally did, but he didn’t have to now.
Carl read the letter again. A second final moment with the love of his life. He took his glasses off and wiped his eyes.
“I guess I’ll never know, will I boy?” he said more to himself than to Dug. He regretted opening the envelope now, he should have held off.
Carl sat in his chair for the rest of the day, his thoughts swirling through his mind. What did she want to tell me? Eventually sleep took hold of him and his mind cleared as he started to doze.
Carl stirred the second he heard an excited bark.
“Wake up Master, wake up Master.” a voice called.
Carl rubbed his eyes and fumbled around for his glasses. He placed them on his head and looked down to find Dug with a dark blue envelope hanging out of the excited dog's mouth. Dug jumped up and placed his front paws on Carl’s lap, his tale wagging furiously. He dropped the letter from his mouth onto Carl’s lap.
“It was under the chair Master, I got it for you, I love you.” Dug said breathlessly.
“I love you too.” Carl said as butterflies turned in his stomach. He was drowsy from his nap but his senses were starting to spark into life at the sight of another letter. He slowly slid the envelope open, and the first thing he noticed before he started was that the handwriting was different. It wasn’t from Ellie, his heart sank.
Dear Carl,
I never fully introduced myself to you. I’m the Doctor. Dashing, good looking, young. You know the one? Do you remember me? I bet you do, I am a hard person to forget.
We met just before your job interview at the zoo? I told you to go for balloon selling, not popcorn selling. I’m glad you took my advice. Not many of you pudding brains do!
I am so sorry about Ellie, she was a superstar. But that isn’t why I was writing to you. I wanted to show you what I showed Ellie. I’ve enclosed a photograph for you.
You see Carl, you did make it!
One more thing I had to tell you, well two things actually. I know Ellie didn’t get to finish her last letter, but I know what she wanted to say. She wanted to say I was wrong. I know what you are thinking, the Doctor is never wrong. On this occasion I will admit I was just this once. I told Ellie to never meet her heroes, I told her it would never go the way she wanted it to. She wanted to tell you that’s not true, because she met her hero and it went better than she had ever hoped, because her hero was you, Carl.
The other thing can wait, I’ll see you again soon.
The Doctor x
Carl shook the envelope and a polaroid picture fell out and floated onto his lap. He picked it up and smiled. There it was, their house, sitting on top of Paradise Falls. It had made it. They had made it. He wasn’t sure what the police box was next to it though. Carl held the photograph close to his chest, and crossed his heart slowly with his finger, the adventure was complete.
Carl drifted back to sleep and had the most amazing dreams. He was startled awake for the second time of the day by a furious knock on his front door. He slowly got himself out of his chair, and walked to the door, he put the latch on and opened the door just a slither.
“Who is it?” Carl barked as the lights in the house began to flicker.
“Hello Carl, I’m the dashing handsome stranger you’ve been wondering about. Now let me in, we have work to do.”
You made it to the end - congratulations!! Thank you for reading and I really hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to check out these legends:
I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and wish you a very happy 2025! Oh and don't forget - we're all stories in the end, just make it a good one eh!
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