Voicemail

You Aren't Alive

Elena Gilbert woke up to her own screaming for the 4th time tonight.

"Damon," she whispered, the name sounded beautiful on her lips.

The phone was her first object she picked up.

When she dialed his number, it went straight to voicemail. Strange.

"I have been trying to avoid calling you. Don't wanna run up your phone bill, or anything. Why did it go to voicemail so quick? You aren't alive."

Damon had officially been gone for 2 weeks.

"I miss you so much. How many times am I going to say that before I realize it will never change? I will always miss you. It's so hard for me to live without you," she paused for a moment, as if he'd say anything.

"Stefan is doing okay but he misses you. A lot. Bonnie came back. But where are you? She knows where you are, and she won't tell me. She claims she doesn't. Are you really gone? Jeremy is surprisingly taking this very hard. He was getting to really like you."

There was a faint silence, "Caroline surprisingly claims that she misses you as well. It's different around here. Ric has barely shown his face around me. I think he's afraid he'll cry."

She was growing very tired and began to drift off into sleep. She still refused to hang up.

"I'm not the religious type, Damon. I've lost so many people in my life that there's no way I can believe in God but I'm praying. I'm praying you're alive."

Her eyes closed as she said her final words for the night, "I love you."

~

Beep. Beep.

The bright blue phone made a humming noise and his eyes shot open.

5 missed calls, and 2 voicesmails from Elena.

He clicked the open button and put it on speaker, setting it on the bed right beside him.

"Damon," he smiled, her voice was so beautiful.

"I have been trying to avoid calling you. Don't wanna run up your phone bill, or anything. Why did it go to voicemail so quick? You aren't alive."

I am, Elena. I am.

He was so concerned and he missed her so much.

"I miss you so much. How many times am I going to say that before I realize it will never change? I will always miss you. It's so hard for me to live without you," she said, concern in her voice.

He didn't know if it was for him, or herself.

"Stefan is doing okay but he misses you. A lot. Bonnie came back. But where are you? She knows where you are, and she won't tell me. She claims she doesn't. Are you really gone? Jeremy is surprisingly taking this very hard. He was getting to really like you."

God, Stefan. He missed his brother so much and little Bon Bon.

She always made him laugh and he loved picking on her.

"Caroline surprisingly claims that she misses you as well. It's different around here. Ric has barely shown his face around me. I think he's afraid he'll cry."

Caroline? Aha, she does hate me, I know it. She just 'misses me' because Elena does.

"I'm not the religious type, Damon. I've lost so many people in my life that there's no way I can believe in God but I'm praying. I'm praying you're alive," she finished.

"I love you."

He sat up and sighed, "I love you too, Elena."

He clicked the phone off and set it down on his nightstand.

Maybe leaving Elena wasn't the best idea. But, he couldn't go back.

Wherever he went, death followed, and he hated it.

"Goodnight Damon," he muttered to himself, laying flat on the silky sheets.