Consequences

Clara Oswald had hoped that the idea that she had a clothing allergy was just that -- an idea. Yet every time she started to put her clothes back on, her skin started to itch again and it seemed that the only thing that helped more than a good long scratch was to leave them off all together.

Which meant what?

That she was going to spend the rest of her life naked?

She felt awkward enough just being naked in front of Ashildr. But to be naked in front of everybody -- to be unable to wear even the skimpiest swimsuit or the most transparent lingerie lest she started itching again -- Clara was not sure she could handle that.

Perhaps if she could write something new in the diary. Yes, that would do it.

Somehow Ashildr's diary had the power to affect not just Ashildr but other people as well. So all Clara had to do was to find a way to "borrow" Ashildr's diary again -- and rewrite the clothing allergy out of existence.

Of course, first she had to get up the nerve to leave the bathroom.

As she slowly opened the door, she noticed that Ashildr's back was turned. Now to look around quietly and see if she could locate that diary without arousing Ashildr's suspicions...

"Looking for something?" asked Ashildr.

"No, not really," said Clara, feeling somewhat awkward about being naked in front of Ashildr.

True, Ashildr did not appear to be staring at any of Clara's more embarrassing body parts but still...

"Well, I hope you weren't looking for my diary because I threw it away," said Ashildr.

"Threw it away?" asked Clara.

"Yes, I decided to start a new diary," said Ashildr.

"Oh, thank God," said Clara.

"Want me to read you the first chapter?" asked Ashildr.

"If you insist," said Clara, trying desperately not to seem too curious.

"'Day One: I discovered that my good friend Clara Oswald and I are allergic to clothes,'" said Ashildr.

So far so good, thought Clara.

"'After much soul-searching and a futile search for a cure, I decided to just deal with it,'" said Ashildr.

Say what? thought Clara.

"'I never liked spending too much money on clothes anyway and Clara seems much more happier in the nude,'" continued Ashildr.

I what? thought Clara.

"'In fact, I think this allergy is a blessing in disguise,'" said Ashidlr. "'I just read this beautiful story online about this blonde girl who volunteers to go naked to please her best friend in the whole universe and to stay naked forever. I could not help thinking that if permanent nudity was good enough for that girl, then...'"

Wait a minute, is she saying what I think she's saying? thought Clara. And what kind of idiot would talk their best friend into going naked forever?

"Isn't that what you did with Ashildr?" said Clara's inner voice.

Silly conscience, thought Clara. Don't you have any better advice to give me than that?

"How about 'karma's a bitch and so am I?'" said her inner voice.

Well, whatever, thought Clara. I can still rewrite the diary. All I have to do is erase whatever she wrote and then...

"Oh, by the way, Clara," said Ashildr, "did I ever show this cool pen I found that I'm going to use to write in my diary? It writes in permanent ink so I don't have to worry about my words fading away or anything. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to go put my diary up in my personal safe. After all, we wouldn't want any strangers peeking into it and finding out all my secrets, right?"

"I'm guessing forever is going to be a long time," said Clara's inner voice.

Oh, shut up, thought Clara.