Damon gripped the bloody stake in his hand, his whole body shaking. "No." Elena falls to his side wailing "please...PLEASE NO I'M SORRY." His blood still dripping down her arm. She held his face, tears streaming down. "It's ok. I've lived long enough..." Elena shook her head sobbing, rocking him back and forth. "I didn't...I didn't mean to" she wept.
She could still remember the first time she realized she loved him. It was like any other day, and he was being an asshole. He stared into her eyes with such intensity she realized she had never truly looked at his eyes before. The deep brown was inviting yet guarded, the color of coffee beans after being roasted. His sly smirk had never seemed so.... calming.
The shaking breaths of Damon brought her back, and the reality of what she had done set in. His whole body trembled, and even on the brink of death, he still tried to calm her down. "Did I ever tell you why I fell in love with you?" Elena shook her head, struggling to control the sharp cries erupting out of her.
"Because when I look at you, I feel at home. I'd never truly felt safe anywhere until I met you, and that continues to this day. When I look at you, I know nothing can harm either of us because of how much we care about each other." Damon winced as the stake shifted in his body, his breaths becoming even more shallow. "Promise me something"
Elena nodded, for she was unable to do anything else. "Promise me you'll live your life. Promise me you'll find love again." His voice broke as he realized this was truly the last time he'd see the face of the woman he loved. Elena choked back a sob, reality setting in that one mistake she made has sealed the fate of her, and the man she loves.
"I....I can't.. I can't do this without you." Elena stroked his cheek, relishing in the fact that she could still see his chest move up and down with each breath.
"You have to." He smiled the saddest smile she'd ever seen and slowly drifted away. The deep and inviting eyes she'd loved so much became glassy and dull, as if they belonged to a doll. Elena wailed and hugged Damon to her chest, realizing this will be the first and last time she'll ever truly be in love.
