Another Light

Growing Pains

Pain comes in all forms; the small twinge, a bit of soreness, the random pain. The normal pains we live with every day. Then there’s the kind of we can’t ignore, a level of pain so great that it blocks out everything else; makes the rest of the world fade away until all we can think about is how much we hurt. How we manage our pain is up to us.

Pain. We anesthetize … ride it out, embrace it, ignore it …

And for some of us, the best way to manage pain is to just push through it.

. . .

Burning. Pain. Then burning again. Where was this pain coming from? She was on fire. She had to be. What else could cause this horrible burning sensation? Elena tried to calm herself down for a second, because she needed to collect her mind and had to find out what was happening to her.

The last thing she remembered was driving along Wickery Bridge with Matt and that she was utterly disturbed due to Klaus death, because it would possible kill most of her loved ones as well. Matt lost the control of the car; he wanted to dodge Rebekah who suddenly stood in the middle of the street and then … well then she just remembered being in the water and memories of her parent’s death were mixed up with the reality. For Elena, it was quite ironic; drowning at the same spot where she once was saved. But this time she didn't let Stefan save her first, this time she wanted to have the duty to help her friend, just like her father did back then with her.

And then, suddenly everything went black and now this. But what exactly was this?

She tried to take a breath. Pain. Burning. More Pain. It felt as if her throat was being on fire. What was causing this horrible pain?

Suddenly, life returned to Elena. She awoke, gasping, her eyes wide. Stefan immediately took her into his arms and held her close to him, thankful that she had been given a second chance.

The brunette carefully pushed herself away from him. Her hand automatically went to her throat. The pain and burning was still there but the flames turned out to not even exist. Thirst. That was it. How long exactly had it been since she had drank something?

Elena’s expression was one of confusion. “Stefan … what happened?” She looked around. “Where’s Matt?” She needed to know if he was okay.

"Matt's at the hospital," he said. His eyes seemed distant as if he was distracted by his thoughts. "But …" he was searching for the right words, "I didn't reach you in time, Elena."

“What?” His words didn’t make any sense. She blacked out, yes, but now she was awake. She was alive.

"Elena …" Stefan shook his head. "I'm so sorry …”

Confusion overwhelmed her. What was he talking about?

Then it dawned on her.

“I can hear footsteps … and voices … everything.” Her eyes widened again and tears ran down her face. “Why can I hear everything Stefan?” She didn’t want to believe it, even though his comments made it more than obvious.

The door flew open before he could response and Damon came in, his eyes immediately laid on Elena. “How are you feeling?”

Her teary face gave him the answer and she prepared herself for his angry outburst, but it didn’t come one. Instead, he took a seat beside her, giving her an apologetic expression.

“Don’t cry Elena, you know that it doesn’t suit you.” Elena knew that he tried not to scream at her, at Stefan, at anything around them and she would thank him later, because she really wasn't in the mood right now.