She’d powered through it as long as she could. Everyone had expected her to break, to shatter into a million pieces with Jenna and John both dead, with Stefan gone, having been sacrificed herself and yet come back to life. Elena had been determined to prove them wrong. Damon had been watching her like a hawk the past few weeks, ready to swoop in like a knight in shining armor. He’d kept her laughing, hadn’t let her think long enough to realize just how much her life had gone to pieces.
Until she found herself alone one night. Either he’d figured she would be okay or he needed a break from playing cheerful and flirting his ass off. And she had been fine until she went to get something. She’d leant Jenna a top before the sacrifice and she wanted to wear it. But entering Jenna’s room suddenly she was overwhelmed. She hadn’t been in there since Jenna died. No, since Jenna was murdered. It was like her aunt had just left. Clothing was still strewn haphazardly around the room, her perfume lingering as she stepped in. Like she’d just stepped out and would be back any minute.
Except she wouldn’t. She wouldn’t and neither would Elena’s parents, who had shared that room before Jenna. Caroline was a vampire because of her, Tyler a werewolf because Damon had released the tomb vampires to get Katherine out. Stefan was gone, Ric had lost yet another woman he loved...and There was Elena at the center of all of the destruction.
Tears overflowed, Elena backing out and shutting the door behind her, leaving the shrine intact. The next few minutes passed in a daze. She needed to numb the pain. She couldn’t bear the waves crashing over her, the guilt, the recrimination, the sorrow that came from losing nearly everyone she loved.
She found her way to the Boarding House, aware that Matt would be working and wouldn’t exactly serve her readily. Damon, at least, wouldn’t stop her as long as she didn’t drink the good stuff. Slipping inside, she bypassed the library to go to the wine cellar downstairs, grabbing the first bottle she found. Scotch by the looks of it.
The first sip burned as she swallowed, tears flowing as she slid to sit in the corner, curled up. A second sip and then a third and then half the bottle was gone and Elena was crying, mouth pressed to her mouth to muffle the sobs, her body shaking as she finally let go of all of the pain that she’d kept pent up inside. She just hoped Damon knew enough to know that she didn’t want to be comforted right now.